John Norton on "Landauer's Principle"

July 02, 2026

Ernst Mach was of the opinion that statistical physics was the proper foundation of dynamics. See David Albert Talking Complete Nonsense.

See from 33:06:

55:26 Thermodynamic entropy is a selection principle which picks out the spontaneous paths closed systems take through configuration space.

1:04:55 Thermodynamic considerations are what led Einstein to his light quantum hypothesis too.

See Norton's Mach's Principle Before Einstein and How Hume and Mach Helped Einstein Find Special Relativity. Also Ernst Mach's (1882) The Economical Nature of Physical Inquiry:

The greatest perfection of mental economy is attained in that science which has reached the highest formal development, and which is widely employed in physical inquiry, namely, in mathematics. Strange as it may sound, the power of mathematics rests upon its evasion of all unnecessary thought and on its wonderful saving of mental operations. Even those arrangement-signs which we call numbers are a system of marvellous simplicity and economy. When we employ the multiplication-table in multiplying numbers of several places, and so use the results of old operations of counting instead of performing the whole of each operation anew; when we consult our table of logarithms, replacing and saving thus new calculations by old ones already performed; when we employ determinants instead of always beginning afresh the solution of a system of equations; when we resolve new integral expressions into familiar old integrals; we see in this simply a feeble reflexion of the intellectual activity of a Lagrange or a Cauchy, who, with the keen discernment of a great military commander, substituted for new operations whole hosts of old ones. No one will dispute me when I say that the most elementary as well as the highest mathematics are economically-ordered experiences of counting, put in forms ready for use.

In algebra we perform, as far as possible, all numerical operations which are identical in form once for all, so that only a remnant of work is left for the individual case. The use of the signs of algebra and analysis, which are merely symbols of operations to be performed, is due to the observation that we can materially disburden the mind in this way and spare its powers for more important and more difficult duties, by imposing all mechanical operations upon the hand. One result of this method, which attests its economical character, is the construction of calculating machines. ...

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Makes you think about what LLMs are doing, doesn't it?

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