Difference between revisions of "Entropy"
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Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system, first postulated by [[Lazare Carnot]] in 1803. | Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system, first postulated by [[Lazare Carnot]] in 1803. | ||
| − | Creationist | + | Creationist [[Henry Morris]] argues that the law of Entropy, also known as the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]], disproves evolution: "...the Second law, however, that wipes out the theory of evolution. There is a universal process of change, and it is a directional change, but it is not an upward change."<ref>http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=51</ref> |
| − | However, the second law allows local decreases of entropy at the expense of an equal or greater increase elsewhere. Furthermore, it is unclear that evolution requires even a local decrease in entropy. | + | However, the second law allows local decreases of entropy at the expense of an equal or greater increase elsewhere: in short, the second law is only violated where entropy decreased overall in a closed system, which the Earth is not, disproving Morris' argument. Furthermore, it is unclear that evolution requires even a local decrease in entropy: while the "order" of a species is subjectively greater due to evolution, it is objectively lesser as a result of wasted genetic material and speciation events. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 15:53, March 13, 2007
Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system, first postulated by Lazare Carnot in 1803.
Creationist Henry Morris argues that the law of Entropy, also known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics, disproves evolution: "...the Second law, however, that wipes out the theory of evolution. There is a universal process of change, and it is a directional change, but it is not an upward change."[1]
However, the second law allows local decreases of entropy at the expense of an equal or greater increase elsewhere: in short, the second law is only violated where entropy decreased overall in a closed system, which the Earth is not, disproving Morris' argument. Furthermore, it is unclear that evolution requires even a local decrease in entropy: while the "order" of a species is subjectively greater due to evolution, it is objectively lesser as a result of wasted genetic material and speciation events.