Has Hawking explained the thermodynamic arrow of time?

Has Hawking explained the thermodynamic arrow of time?

Speaker:
Drs Katinka Ridderbos, Wolfson College, Cambridge (UK).
Date:
February 13, 1998

In this talk I will analyse the debate between the physicist Stephen Hawking and the philosopher Huw Price on whether Hawking's No-Boundary Condition for the quantum state of the universe explains the origin of the thermodynamic arrow of time. I will argue that Price objects to Hawking's claims for the wrong reasons. Instead I will point out other difficulties which undermine Hawking's argument.


Last updated: Thursday, 15-Oct-1998 16:06:00 CEST