Re: Truesdell on Classical Thermodynamics

[twayburn@juno.com (Thomas L Wayburn)]

On Thu, 31 Jul 1997 00:10:15 -0700 Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca> writes:
> > "The reason classical thermodynamics is not understood is that IT IS 
> NOT
> > UNDERSTANDABLE." - Clifford Truesdell, a proponent of *rational*
> > thermophysics, in favor of which wider applicability and greater
> > mathematical rigor than the subject studied by all mechanical and
> > chemical engineers and, apparently, many others has been claimed.
>
> All he's saying is that he doesn't understand classical 
> thermodynamics.
> I *could* say the same thing about general relativity, but I wouldn't,
> because though I don't understand it, I know others who do.
>
> Leigh
I don't believe you know Clifford Truesdell as well as you think you do. 
This guy is in another league beyond some of our most respected
scientists even.   Look up scholar in your dictionary.  You should find
his picture.   He is a couple of dimensions further along than anyone I
know of and I've been East of Channel view.  I hope I am not easily
deceived.  Such obscurity as he enjoys has been carefully nurtured.  
Check him out in your library or, if at a small school, on the Internet.
(Contact me if you have serious difficulties looking at his many books,
peer-reviewed papers, and miscellanea.)  

 I believe I have partly discharged my huge debt to the scholars of
PHYS-L  - at least to those who do not know Truesdell yet.   You folks
have given me a better way to while away an hour that I might have spent
less profitably at a Rice or Houston seminar.

Regards / The Amateur