On 19 March 2014 12:52, Hal Ruhl <[email protected]> wrote: > > To answer your question I think the narrowest characterization of the type > of life I talk about is that it is one of the possible processes within a > universe that if implemented increase the entropy of that universe. > Further all such processes will be implemented in any universe in which > they are possible. Since entropy has a fixed maximum in a closed system (a > universe) then life must enable its own extinction. >
I'm told (mainly by PCW Davies iirc) that the maximum entropy in an expanding universe increases indefinitely. This is how a big bang fireball that was more or less at thermodynamic equilibrium could turn into a universe full of dissipative systems. This may not however prevent life from enabling its own extinction (at least in the very, very, very long run) - although I'd say at the present epoch it is mainly stars that are enabling its extinction. (Along with its existence, too, of course.) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
