For John, BLUF: In my Thermo text book the author said that the Second Law of Thermodynamics caused him to believe in God. Otherwise the Universe would be reduced to enthropy. Nothing to see here; just move along.
Reporter Jonah Goldberg! Of the LA Times, today, talks to us about thermodynamics and the way things are falling apart,, in sports, in politics and in Hollywood.
Perhaps the second law of thermodynamics explains it. Well, not the sports victories, but the political and institutional screw-ups.Hat tip to the InstaPundit.Steven Pinker recently wrote a wonderful little essay (for edge.org) on how people need to better appreciate the second law. Specifically, they need to understand that if we don’t actively work to keep chaos at bay, entropy wins. “Closed systems inexorably become less structured, less organized, less able to accomplish interesting and useful outcomes, until they slide into an equilibrium of gray, tepid, homogeneous monotony and stay there.”
“The Second Law of Thermodynamics” Pinker adds, “is acknowledged in everyday life” whenever we say things like “Ashes to ashes,” “Things fall apart” and “Rust never sleeps.”
Regards — Cliff
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