The Science of $\Theta \Delta^{cs}$

Understand

There is a long tradition of thinking of thermodynamics, not as a theory of fundamental physics (or even a candidate theory of fundamental physics), but as a theory of how manipulations of a physical system may be used to obtain desired effects, such as mechanical work.

• On this view, the basic concepts of thermodynamics, heat and work, and with them, the concept of entropy, are relative to a class of envisaged manipulations.
• This view has been dismissed by many philosophers of physics, in my opinion too hastily.
• This paper is a sketch and defense of a science of manipulations and their effects on physical systems.