A great deal of (19th century) thermodynamics has its roots in the desire to engineer better steam engines. Entropy as an example has been introduced as an abst

A great deal of (19th century) thermodynamics has its roots in the desire to engineer better steam engines. Entropy as an example has been introduced as an abstract concept to get to engines with better efficiency. Even when statistical thermodynamics was suggested (which makes of a less abstract and more intuitive understanding of thermodynamics) it was strongly opposed by many of the pundits at that time.