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(1999) Sociobiology and bioeconomics, Dordrecht, Springer.
Does the second law of thermodynamics refute the neo-darwinian synthesis?
Bruce H. Weber, David J. Depew
pp. 50-75
Ever since Darwin, there has been a troubled but changing relationship between two great achievements of nineteenth century science, thermodynamics and Darwinian evolutionary theory. The second law of thermodynamics, particularly in its Boltzmannian statistical formulation, predicts that as entropy increases to a maximum, so will disorder. Eventually, energy differences in the universe will disappear, so that no more work will be possible. Darwin's theory, by contrast, implies the possibility that biological systems can, though not necessarily, increase in ordered complexity over time through the action of natural selection. The increase in heterogeneity that is a hallmark of life does not seem to follow the arrow of time that points toward the heat death of the universe.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-03825-3_4
Full citation:
Weber, B. H. , Depew, D. J. (1999)., Does the second law of thermodynamics refute the neo-darwinian synthesis?, in P. Koslowski (ed.), Sociobiology and bioeconomics, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 50-75.
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