Glossary
Caloric theory of heat An obsolete ontological theory of heat that heat consists of
a self-repellent, weightless fluid called caloric that flows from hotter bodies to
colder bodies. Though obsolete in its materiality conception of heat, it remains
useful in how we study heat flowing down the temperature gradients and how we
measure the heat value of foods.
Causal necessity The idea that agents can start new causal chains that are not
pre-determined by the events of the immediate or distant past in accordance to
physical necessity. That is, causation is not limited to efficient causation alone;
nor, necessity limited to physical necessity. Causal necessity, therfore, is a new
metaphysical presupposition breaking away from the the metaphysical presupposition of physical necessity. According to Poincare (Sect. 8.3), without
causal necessity, thermodynamic laws would “no longer have any meaning”. It
is causal necessity and “indeterministic hypothesis” that give meaning to thermodynamic laws and make them unique in physics.
Chemical energy Energy stored within chemical bonds.
Combustion The process of burning organic chemicals to release heat and light.
Efficacious causation See Causal necessity.
Efficiency According to Energy conversion doctrine: ability of a process or
machine to convert energy input to energy output. According to EGP-centric
doctrine: ability of a triadic process to produce benefitable outcome from the
consumption of stock EGP as measured by the ratio of “benefit” in terms of
energy to energy of stock EGP.
Efficient causation See Physical necessity.
Electrical energy Energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a
conductor.
Energy conversion Transformation of one form of energy into another, usually to
convert the energy into a more useful form.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L.-S. Wang, A Treatise of Heat and Energy, Mechanical Engineering Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05746-6
293
Caloric theory of heat An obsolete ontological theory of heat that heat consists of
a self-repellent, weightless fluid called caloric that flows from hotter bodies to
colder bodies. Though obsolete in its materiality conception of heat, it remains
useful in how we study heat flowing down the temperature gradients and how we
measure the heat value of foods.
Causal necessity The idea that agents can start new causal chains that are not
pre-determined by the events of the immediate or distant past in accordance to
physical necessity. That is, causation is not limited to efficient causation alone;
nor, necessity limited to physical necessity. Causal necessity, therfore, is a new
metaphysical presupposition breaking away from the the metaphysical presupposition of physical necessity. According to Poincare (Sect. 8.3), without
causal necessity, thermodynamic laws would “no longer have any meaning”. It
is causal necessity and “indeterministic hypothesis” that give meaning to thermodynamic laws and make them unique in physics.
Chemical energy Energy stored within chemical bonds.
Combustion The process of burning organic chemicals to release heat and light.
Efficacious causation See Causal necessity.
Efficiency According to Energy conversion doctrine: ability of a process or
machine to convert energy input to energy output. According to EGP-centric
doctrine: ability of a triadic process to produce benefitable outcome from the
consumption of stock EGP as measured by the ratio of “benefit” in terms of
energy to energy of stock EGP.
Efficient causation See Physical necessity.
Electrical energy Energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a
conductor.
Energy conversion Transformation of one form of energy into another, usually to
convert the energy into a more useful form.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L.-S. Wang, A Treatise of Heat and Energy, Mechanical Engineering Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05746-6
293