Is the tendency toward complexity a violation of the 2nd law of thermodynamics?
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Anonymous2009-12-30 10:58
What do you mean by complexity exactly, and why do you think increasing complexity would violate the 2nd law?
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Anonymous2009-12-30 11:17
>>2
As in evolution. From the stuff that made sub atomic matter gradually becoming stars to which exploded to form heavier elements which formed the planets. Which in turn formed humans etc
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Anonymous2009-12-30 11:36
earth isn't a closed system, you dumb fuck. massive amounts of energy are radiated on it every day by the giant ball of fire in the sky
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Anonymous2009-12-30 11:40
>>3
For starters the 2nd law only applies to isolated systems. The Earth is by no means an isolated system, as the sun is pumping huge amounts of energy into it every day. I can expend energy to build a tower from a random scattering of Legos, but that doesn't mean the Legos violated the 2nd law. If they assembled themselves into a tower with no outside energy input, THAT would violate the 2nd law.
On the universal scale, entropy is still decreasing as the universe expands and cools.
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Anonymous2009-12-30 11:52
tendency toward complexity
No because the Second Law is really only another tendency. And if you count the total entropy of the universe it still uhh... wins.
>>3
none of that is REALLY complexity in the sense being talked about.
particles put together in a manner that forms a human aren't innately more 'complex' than all those particles grouped in a disorganized manner.
it only subjectively appears more complex to us to have humans instead of a disorganized mass of particles that could make a human if they combined properly.
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Anonymous2010-01-01 2:05
The entire theory that complex things are more important than simple things is outrageous...what do you think makes up all complex things...? ergo, now apply the Law of Consistency to it...and, vuala. :/