Role of thermodynamics in extensions of mesoscopic dynamical theories

Complex macroscopic systems (like for instance those encountered in nanotechnology and biology) need to be investigated in a family of mesoscopic theories involving varying amount of details. In this paper we formulate a general thermodynamics providing a universal framework for such multiscale viewpoint of mesoscopic dynamics. We then discuss its role in making extensions (i.e. in lifting a mesoscopic theory to a more microscopic level that involves more details).