Progress in Entropy Principle, as Disclosed by Nine Schools of Thermodynamics, and Its Ecological Implication

Abstract

The entropy principle has been commonly considered to be a selection principle. A history/philosophy-of-science analysis of development in thermodynamic thought was carried out based on a historical account of contributions to thermodynamics of nine Schools of thermodynamics plus that of Mayer/Joule (the Mayer-Joule principle), publication of A Treatise of Heat and Energy, development in maximum entropy production principle (MEPP), and process ecology formulated by Ulanowicz. The analysis discloses the dual nature in the entropy principle, as selection principle and causal principle, and that as well in thermodynamics: as equilibrium thermodynamics (Gibbsian thermodynamics) and as “engineering” thermodynamics in a general sense. Entropy-growth-potential (EGP) as the causal agent and the theory of engineering thermodynamics entail the concept of causal necessity, as suggested by Poincare. Recent development of the entropy principle into maximum entropy production principle (MEPP) is then critically analyzed. Special attention is paid to MEPP’s explanatory power of biological orders vs. that of process ecology: whereas MEPP asserts universal approach to physics and biology based on physical necessity and efficient causation, the case for “EGP as the causal agent and process ecology” allows biology to be different from physics by allowing the additional presupposition of causal necessity and efficacious causation.