http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/u/jjkay/pubs/Life_as/text.html
Very interesting article on dissipative systems, the SLOT and how it applies
to living things.
"In this paper we have recast the second law of thermodynamics from the old
statement of "entropy increase" into a statement that describes systems
undergoing processes so that they will reach a unique state of equilibrium.
This description draws on the work of Carathˇodory, Hatsopoulos &
Keenan, and Kestin. It allows for the discussion of system behaviour in
nonequilibrium situations. It overcomes the difficulty of describing
nonequilibrium systems in terms of entropy, which can only be defined in the
equilibrium state. We suggest that, in nonequilibrium situations, systems
will take advantage of all available means to resist the gradients
responsible for the nonequilibrium condition. Furthermore, the stronger the
applied
gradient, the greater the effect that the equilibrium attractor will have on
the system. Emergence of coherent self-organizing structures are the
expected response of systems as they attempt to resist and dissipate the
external gradients that are moving them away from equilibrium."
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