[yomritoyj]

Statistical mechanics is a subject for which it is very hard to pin down the conceptual foundations. To read a thermometer I need to be sure it has reached "thermal equilibrium" with the object being measured. But how do you define thermal equilibrium in terms of underlying mechanical ideas? How do we identify the mechanical systems to which the concept of temperature and thermal equilibrium can be meaningfully applied? See http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2691/1/UffinkFinal.pdf We would be accusing statistical mechanics of 'mathiness' were it not the case that we know how to make it work for very many systems of practical interest. The main problem with economics is that it does not work as often.