Open vs. Closed Systems -- a comment of the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.


At one time there were serious discussions of the question of whether living organisms did not violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics, inasmuch as they are able to increase their internal organization instead of succumbing to "disorder" as the Second Law prescribes. Since an explicitly stated condition for the operation of the Second Law is that the process in question proceed in a closed system, it is obvious that the law does not apply to a living organism through which matter and energy constantly flow. It is hard to see why it was ever necessary to make this obvious argument. (A, p. 88)


This page was last updated on July 29, 1996, by Dr. Umpleby.