Philosophy of Thermal and Statistical Physics - The Laws of Thermodynamics

The Laws of Thermodynamics

Traditionally, thermodynamics has often been described as a "theory of principle." This is a theory in which a few empirical generalisations are taken for granted, and from them the rest of the theory is deduced. According to this view, there is a strong correspondence between three empirical facts and the first three laws of thermodynamics. There is a fourth law, not discussed here.