Is There a Dark Side to Studying Statistical Mechanics?

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In summary, the article explores the potential negative implications of studying statistical mechanics, such as the oversimplification of complex systems, the risk of misinterpretation of probabilistic data, and the philosophical dilemmas it introduces regarding determinism and randomness. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a critical perspective and understanding the limitations of statistical approaches in capturing the full complexity of physical phenomena.
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This is from David Goodstein's States of Matter, which is highly regarded - and not just for the introduction.

You can add Paul Drude to the list of practitioners of statistical mechanics who committed suicide.
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
This is from David Goodstein's States of Matter, which is highly regarded - and not just for the introduction.

You can add Paul Drude to the list of practitioners of statistical mechanics who committed suicide.
Looks as if you shouldn't call it "Festkörperphysik" if you're doing it.
 
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