Negentropy

Negentropy or negative entropy is a concept used in the study of thermodynamics, information theory, and other fields to describe situations where there is a decrease in entropy, indicating an increase in order or organization. The term is often associated with the work of physicist Erwin Schrödinger and his 1944 book "What is Life?", where he suggests that living organisms maintain their order and structure by decreasing their internal entropy at the expense of energy taken from their environment.

Overview

Negentropy is a measure of the difference between the entropy of a system and the maximum entropy it could have while still remaining in the same macrostate. In simpler terms, it is a measure of how organized or ordered a system is compared to the maximum disorder it could have. The concept is important in understanding how systems can maintain or increase order, and it is particularly relevant in the study of life sciences and biophysics, where organisms are seen as systems that maintain or increase their order by consuming energy.

Thermodynamics

In thermodynamics, the second law states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. However, this does not mean that parts of the system cannot decrease in entropy, as long as the total entropy of the system, including its surroundings, increases. This principle allows for the existence of negentropy, where local decreases in entropy are offset by greater increases elsewhere in the system.

Information Theory

In information theory, negentropy is closely related to information. It is often used to measure the amount of information or order in a system, as opposed to randomness or chaos. The concept is used to understand how information can be stored, transmitted, and processed efficiently.

Biological Significance

Negentropy has significant implications in the study of biology and ecology. Living organisms are seen as negentropic systems because they decrease their internal entropy by consuming energy in the form of food or sunlight, and expelling waste. This process allows them to maintain their complex structure and function in the face of the natural tendency towards disorder.

Criticism and Alternative Views

The concept of negentropy has been subject to criticism and alternative interpretations. Some scientists argue that the term is unnecessary, as the phenomena it describes can be fully explained by the existing laws of thermodynamics. Others have proposed alternative concepts, such as syntropy, to describe the tendency towards increasing complexity and order in the universe.

See Also

• Entropy
• Second law of thermodynamics
• Information theory
• Biophysics
• Syntropy