Hi Liz: The physics that I learned holds that the energy in a universe is constant. Therefore entropy in such a universe can not exceed 100% of this energy being unable to do work. That seems a max limit to me. Is there a way in which new energy flows into a universe? It seems to me that this question has no current resolution. However in a practical sense we need to consider the realistic maximum energy ultimally available to a particular life system under the rules of its universe. Are there universes that have no such maximum? Perhaps but ours does not seem to be one of them. Speed of light and all of that. How do we deal with that? How do we deal with the practical observation that the local life system is apparently almost completely unaware? And does it matter if it was mostly aware? How do these questions affect the Everything concept? Yours Hal
On Tuesday, March 18, 2014 8:37:59 PM UTC-4, Liz R wrote: > On 19 March 2014 12:52, Hal Ruhl <[email protected] > <javascript:>>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.
