Probability as typicality
Abstract
Description
The concept of typicality refers to properties holding for the "overwhelming majority" of cases and is a fundamental idea of the qualitative approach to dynamical problems. We argue that measure-theoretical typicality would be the adequate viewpoint of the role of probability in classical statistical mechanics, particularly in understanding the micro to macroscopic change of levels of description.
17 pages.Conceptual and historical discussion, foundations of statistical mechanics. Accepted for publication in SHPMP (Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics)
17 pages.Conceptual and historical discussion, foundations of statistical mechanics. Accepted for publication in SHPMP (Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics)