How Did We Get Here? The Tangled History of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

2023/09/21 by Stephen Wolfram, Wolfram, Stephen · 1 voice
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Computer science #Epistemology #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Key (lock) #Law #Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics #Philosophy #Physics #Political science #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Second law of thermodynamics #Sociology #Thermodynamics

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2311.10722

openalex publication_date 2023/09/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

An extensive survey is given of the historical origins of the Second Law of thermodynamics, illustrated by excerpts from many original sources, and with biographical information about key contributors. The major strands of conceptual development of the Second Law are traced, in particular showing how persistent beliefs about it emerged.

Discussions

• Stephen Wolfram has compiled a 161-page history of the second law of thermodynamics—sprinkled with his own opinions of course! h/t @philipcball.bsky.social via the old site. arxiv.org/abs/2311.10722 [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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