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From: dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (A Ray Miller)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: thermodynamics again
Message-ID: <1083@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-May-85 11:58:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.1083
Posted: Wed May 15 11:58:10 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 21:54:45 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: University of Illinois
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/* Written 11:32 pm  May 13, 1985 by miller@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA in uiucdcsb:net.origins */
/* ---------- "thermodynamics again" ---------- */
It has been suggested by some, that thermodynamics does not apply to evolution.
Indeed, one evolutionist on the net, after giving us the entropy equation for
heat flow, concluded:

>     In other words, people, the second law of thermodynamics, as the name
> implies, has to do with *thermodynamics*, and cannot be meaningfully applied
> to any other field.

Sorry, but thermodynamic models have been shown to hold in other areas as well.
One of the fields which can make use of this knowledge is information theory.
It is here that we can see the theoretical grounding for evolution crumble.
For example, Dr. Ian McDowell, an information engineer, wrote:

     "Communication engineers faced with the problem of coding and transmitting
a maximum of information on a given channel have defined quantitatively the
information content of a message.  The amount of information to be supplied to
transmit any given message using symbol x where the probability of any symbol
occurring is P(x) = H(x) = SIGMA P(x) . log2 P(x) which is the negative of the
usual entropy formula of thermodynamics.  This represents a definite relation-
ship, and it has been found that the equivalence between entropy in thermody-
namics and information in a binary message code is given by the equation: 1 nit
[unit of information] = 1.37 * 10^-16 erg / degree C.
     The degree of order [nonrandomness] in a closed system may be described
uniquely, and this description contains a measurable amount of information.  As
the amount of energy available to do useful work within a system decreases,
entropy increases and the information needed to describe the remaining order in
the system decreases at precisely the negative of the entropy increase.
Imagine the traditional `Maxwell Demon' who opens and closes a little door in
the wall of a closed vessel containing gas under pressure every time a molecule
of gas within a certain velocity range approaches the door, thus sorting out
molecules in terms of velocity and decreasing the entropy of the system.  Ob-
viously the `demon' must be preprogrammed to do as he does.  The information
needed to specify his operation of the door is equivalent to the decrease in
entropy within the system which he achieves by that operation.  Similarly, the
vast amount of information needed to pre-program the decrease in entropy which
all living creatures bring into the closed system of the universe has been
precoded upon the genes and could, conceivably, be measured.  Evolution, said
to begin without any such pre-programming whatsoever, runs counter to the
findings of every thermodynamicist and communications engineer.  Every thermo-
dynamic closed system approaches the heat death; and no communications engineer
ever sent a meaningful message with a monkey at the keyboard."

Most evolutionists try to ignore the problem by sweeping it under the rug.
This usually manifests itself in statements such as "Well, given enough time,
anything will happen".  A frog turning into a prince is viewed as magic, unless
the secret ingredient of time is added, at which point it is called science and
given the label "evolution".  A few evolutionists, however, are more honest in
admitting that a serious probem still exists for their theory.  For example,
Dr. Blum wrote:

     "I think if I were rewriting this chapter [on archebiopoesis, or neo-
biogenesis] completely, I should want to change the emphasis somewhat.  I
should want to play down still more the importance of the great amount of time
available for highly improbable events to occur.  One may take the view that
the greater the time elapsed the greater should be the approach to equilibrium,
the most probable state, and it seems that this ought to take precedence in our
thinking over the idea that time provides the possibility for the occurrence of
the highly improbable."

Personal comment here.  Why don't you evolutionists all move your homes over a
toxic waste dump?  Mutations are how you claim evolution progresses; increasing
the mutation rate should increase the rate of evolution.  Should we disband the
EPA?  I'd really like an answer to this question from any evolutionist who
doesn't consume heavy metals with his scrambled eggs for breakfast.

A. Ray Miller
Univ Illinois

-- 
                                                                    |
Paul DuBois     {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois        --+--
                                                                    |
In the human instantiation, the image is the substance.             |