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Macroscopic Processes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Paul Needham
Paul Needham*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Stockholm
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Abstract

Bodies as conceived in macroscopic theories are loosely spoken of as participating in processes. But are there any systematic reasons for regarding processes as part of the ontology of macroscopic theory? The present paper suggests that suitable motivation can be found within a project of describing a phenomenological, macroscopic ontology for equilibrium thermodynamics, and outlines some aspects of the interrelation between continuant bodies and processes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 66 , Issue 2 , June 1999 , pp. 310 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

†

Send requests for reprints to the author, Department of Philosophy, University of Stockholm, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.

‡

I would like to acknowledge the Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences for support for the research on which this paper is based.

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