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From: sharp@aquila.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Thermodynamics
Message-ID: <382@aquila.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Sep-84 13:02:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: aquila.382
Posted: Mon Sep 10 13:02:27 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Sep-84 07:28:14 EDT
Organization: Natl. Optical Astronomy Observatories   Tucson AZ  USA
Lines: 17

My favourite version of the famous three laws goes rather like:
	1:  You can never win, you can only break even.
	2:  You can only break even at absolute zero.
	3:  You can't get to absolute zero.
However, the major point which has not yet been made is that these
are laws of equilibrium thermodynamics, whilst life is part of a very
definitely non-equilibrium process.  (Famous remark: in the likeliest
state, we'd all be dead)
The theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, which is what we really
need to start discussing any conflict with evolution, is slowly being
developed by such as Ilya Prigogine, who won a Nobel prize for his
efforts.  (Why has no-one from UT Austin, home of the Ilya Prigogine
Center [see, I can spell American when I have to {:-)}], mentioned
this ?)  Anyway, since the theory is not applicable, arguing about its
predictions seems rather irrelevant.
-- 
	Nigel Sharp   [noao!sharp  National Optical Astronomy Observatories]