Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Are Thermodynamics From the Devil?

I can't help but think that relying on randomness and statistics to determine what's true is a little bit like using a Ouija board to find an answer to a question. The temperature of a gas only exists if it is in equilibrium, and nothing is in equilibrium. Something has a temperature only if we don't understand the motion of each of the particles that comprise it.

The word temperature, I imagine, is derived from the word temperament, which relates back to the 4 temperaments. In that fine system things like foods were called cold or hot, moist or dry. I imagine a hot tempered individual would be considered choleric, for example.

Now this term, temperature, has been "borrowed" to describe some thermodynamic property. One that arises, not from treating particles individually, but by treating them as if they were all the same. Applying statistics to people can result in stereotyping, and much worse. Why is it acceptable then, when it comes to smaller things? Back in the day, when we didn't understand how something works, we'd attribute it to God's doing. As they say nowadays, the God of the gaps, but now, if we don't understand things we use statistics, to fill the gap. But since we use statistics and don't say God is responsible, then since it is not God we refer to, it must be the devil.

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