Title: Readings and Misreadings of J. Willard Gibbs Elementary Principles in Statistical Mechanics,
Abstract: J. Willard Gibbs' Elementary Principles in Statistical Mechanics was the
definitive work of one of America's greatest physicists. Gibbs' book on
statistical mechanics establishes the basic principles and fundamental results
that have flowered into the modern field of statistical mechanics. However, at
a number of points, Gibbs' teachings on statistical mechanics diverge from
positions on the canonical ensemble found in more recent works, at points where
seemingly there should be agreement. The objective of this paper is to note
some of these points, so that Gibbs' actual positions are not misrepresented to
future generations of students.