Time is dispensable in thermodynamics
arXiv:math-ph/0104032
Abstract
We use Padoa's principle of independence of primitive symbols in axiomatic systems in order to show that time is dispensable in continuum thermodynamics, according to the axiomatic formulation of Gurtin and Williams. We also show how to define time by means of the remaining primitive concepts of Gurtin and Williams system. Finally, we introduce thermodynamics without any explicit reference to time and briefly discuss some physical and philosophical consequences of our main results.
LaTeX, 11 pages, no figures. This is a preliminary version before we submit it for publication in a journal