  Claims of exceptions to the second law of thermodynamics are generally met
with extreme skepticism that is quite reasonable given the great confidence
placed in the second law. But what specifically is the basis for that
confidence? The perspective from which we approach experimental or theoretical
results that call into question the absolute status of the second law depends
greatly on our understanding of why it must be true. For example, a belief that
there are solid theoretical arguments demonstrating that the second law must be
true leads to a very different perspective than a belief that the law is simply
a generalization of empirical observations. This paper will briefly survey and
examine some of the basic arguments on which our confidence in the second law
might be based, to help provide a well-informed perspective for evaluating the
various claims presented at this conference.
