Introduction: The Conceptual Foundations of Statistical Physics

In recent years a growing number of philosophers of science have come to realise that the philosophical foundations of statistical mechanics are not as secure as was once thought.1 Conceptual problems that had been swept under a carpet of technicalities, or simply ignored, have surfaced, solutions that were accepted are being questioned, and new routes are being explored. Thus, central issues such as the origins of time asymmetry, Maxwell's demon, and the compatibility of statistical and classical mechanics, are as urgent and intriguing today as they were when statistical mechanics took shape at the end of the nineteenth century. Research in the foundations of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics has deepened our understanding of these fields. This special issue is motivated by recognition of the need for similar research in the foundations of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.