While the fundamental laws of physics are time-reversal invariant, most macroscopic processes are irreversible. Given that the fundamental laws are taken to underpin all other processes, how can the fundamental time-symmetry be reconciled with the asymmetry manifest elsewhere? In statistical mechanics (SM), progress can be made with this question. What I dub the ‘Zwanzig–Zeh–Wallace framework’ can be used to construct the irreversible equations of SM from the underlying microdynamics. Yet this framework uses coarse-graining, a procedure that has faced much criticism. I focus on two objections in the literature: claims that coarse-graining makes time-asymmetry (i) ‘illusory’ and (ii) ‘anthropocentric’. I argue that these objections arise from an unsatisfactory justification of coarse-graining prevalent in the literature, rather than from coarse-graining itself. This justification relies on the idea of measurement imprecision. By considering the role that abstraction and autonomy play, I provide an alternative justification and offer replies to the illusory and anthropocentric objections. Finally, I consider the broader consequences of this alternative justification: the connection to debates about inter-theoretic reduction and the implication that the time-asymmetry in SM is weakly emergent. 1. Introduction 1.1. Prospectus2. The Zwanzig–Zeh–Wallace Framework3. Why Does This Method Work? 3.1. The special conditions account3.2. When is a density forwards-compatible?4. Anthropocentrism and Illusion: Two Objections 4.1. The two objections in more detail4.2. Against the justification by measurement imprecision5. An Alternative Justification 5.1. Abstraction and autonomy5.2. An illustration: the Game of Life6. Reply to Illusory7. Reply to Anthropocentric8. The Wider Landscape: Concluding Remarks 8.1. Inter-theoretic relations8.2. The nature of irreversibility Introduction 1.1. Prospectus Prospectus The Zwanzig–Zeh–Wallace Framework Why Does This Method Work? 3.1. The special conditions account3.2. When is a density forwards-compatible? The special conditions account When is a density forwards-compatible? Anthropocentrism and Illusion: Two Objections 4.1. The two objections in more detail4.2. Against the justification by measurement imprecision The two objections in more detail Against the justification by measurement imprecision An Alternative Justification 5.1. Abstraction and autonomy5.2. An illustration: the Game of Life Abstraction and autonomy An illustration: the Game of Life Reply to Illusory Reply to Anthropocentric The Wider Landscape: Concluding Remarks 8.1. Inter-theoretic relations8.2. The nature of irreversibility Inter-theoretic relations The nature of irreversibility

中文翻译：

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不对称、抽象和自治：证明统计力学中的粗粒度

虽然物理学的基本定律是时间反转不变的，但大多数宏观过程是不可逆的。鉴于基本定律被用来支持所有其他过程，基本时间对称性如何与其他地方的不对称性相协调？在统计力学 (SM) 中，这个问题可以取得进展。我所说的“Zw​​anzig-Zeh-Wallace 框架”可用于从潜在的微动力学构造 SM 的不可逆方程。然而，这个框架使用了粗粒度的方法，这一过程受到了很多批评。我关注文献中的两个反对意见：声称粗粒度使时间不对称（i）“虚幻”和（ii）“以人类为中心”。我认为这些反对意见源于对文献中普遍存在的粗粒度的不令人满意的理由，而不是来自粗粒度本身。这种理由依赖于测量不精确的想法。通过考虑抽象和自主所扮演的角色，我提供了另一种理由，并对虚幻的和以人类为中心的反对意见提供了答复。最后，我考虑了这种替代论证的更广泛的后果：与关于理论间归约的辩论的联系以及 SM 中的时间不对称性弱突现的含义。1. 简介 1.1. 招股说明书2。Zwanzig-Zeh-Wallace 框架3。为什么这种方法有效？3.1. 特殊条件帐户3.2。什么时候密度向前兼容？ 4。人类中心主义和错觉：两个反对意见 4.1。4.2 更详细地说明了两个反对意见。反对测量不精确的理由5。替代理由 5.1。抽象和自治5.2。插图：生命游戏6。回复 幻觉7。回复 Anthropocentric 8。更广阔的前景：结束语 8.1。8.2 理论间关系 不可逆性的性质 引言 1.1．招股说明书 招股说明书 Zwanzig-Zeh-Wallace 框架 为什么这种方法有效？3.1. 特殊条件帐户3.2。什么时候密度向前兼容？特殊条件帐户 什么时候密度向前兼容？人类中心主义和错觉：两个反对意见 4.1。4.2 更详细地说明了两个反对意见。反对测量不精确的理由 更详细的两个反对意见 反对测量不精确的理由 替代理由 5.1。抽象和自治5.2。一个例子：生命抽象和自治的游戏 一个例子：生命游戏对虚幻的回答 对人类中心的回答 更广阔的风景：结束语 8.1。8.2 理论间关系 不可逆的本质 理论间关系 不可逆的本质