MAXWELL’S DEMON AND INTERACTIONISM

Dejan R. Dimitrijević

DOI Number
https://doi.org/10.2298/FUPCT1902161D
First page
161
Last page
171

Abstract


Maxwell's demon is an imaginary being invented a century and a half ago by James Clarke Maxwell in order to illustrate the statistical nature of the Second Law of thermodynamics. It helped us reach a better understanding not only of that law but also of the relationship between statistical physics and thermodynamics. Since the 1910’s it has caused a flood of papers of scientists who have tried to save the Second Law from the threat of the demon and hence preclude the possibility of perpetuum mobile of the second kind. Nowadays, it helps us better understand the possibility of constructing an interactionist model of mental causation manifested through the violation of the Second Law by the mind.

Keywords

The Second Law of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, Maxwell’s demon, interactionism, mental causation

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References


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