600
15 Ordering Theory
Viability is measured by how easily the subsystem is created and sustained. Survivability is part of sustainability. Synergism is the ability of different subsystems
to act together to increase their viability. A catalyst acts synergistically with certain
other systems to increase the rates of particular production processes.
Activity is required for systems to have life. Higher activity gives advantage over
slower subsystems acting on the same constraints, the same energy flow and the
same material resources. Activity implies work is being done. In turn, work requires
an input of energy. This work may be eventually stored as binding energy in the
building of the subsystem. Building is an ordering process. This can only take place
for subsystems running in cycles if the entropy of the surroundings increases. Thus,
the subsystem must produce disorder in its environment equal to or greater than the
interior reduction of disorder. The most often encountered mechanism that increases
the entropy of the environment is the release of heat from the subsystem, usually by
conduction and radiation. There will be an optimal activity depending on energy
and material flow. Thus, included in any measure of activity is the effectiveness for
a system to gather needed external energy and supplies, and to vent heat and remove
spent waste material.
Reproducibility gives advantage to subsystems, in that many copies can utilize
resources to a greater extent than one can. Those subsystems which can limit
reproduction when resources are low will have an added advantage. If the subsystem
is a life system with information stored in memory, making a new individual with
fresh structure and new memory capacity may be more adaptable than redoing the
parents, particularly when the environment is changing. 5 If the progeny also have
slightly different structural coding, and suffer changes in the environment, those
with greater survivability have an advantage. This also means a finite lifetime for
individuals may also have an advantage. The span of life should be sufficient to
protect and train the next generation, and to take advantage of learned skills.
The universal factors, stability, adaptability, viability, and activity, cannot be
simultaneously maximized. For example, stability and mutability are counteracting
traits. With time, nature finds a system approaching an optimal combination of the
relevant factors, given the natural constraints and the environmental conditions.
15.3 Major Thresholds in the Development of Order
Ordering is a process of accumulating information. Life systems first used information stored on molecules to be able to recreate new molecules, and then organisms.
Further information added to the molecules made the activity of life further capable
of survival. New flexible storage through proteins regulators allowed for variable
responses to variable environments. Information for producing chemical transmitter
systems, hydraulic systems and ganglions permitted coordination among many
5 This is an argument against immortality!
15 Ordering Theory
Viability is measured by how easily the subsystem is created and sustained. Survivability is part of sustainability. Synergism is the ability of different subsystems
to act together to increase their viability. A catalyst acts synergistically with certain
other systems to increase the rates of particular production processes.
Activity is required for systems to have life. Higher activity gives advantage over
slower subsystems acting on the same constraints, the same energy flow and the
same material resources. Activity implies work is being done. In turn, work requires
an input of energy. This work may be eventually stored as binding energy in the
building of the subsystem. Building is an ordering process. This can only take place
for subsystems running in cycles if the entropy of the surroundings increases. Thus,
the subsystem must produce disorder in its environment equal to or greater than the
interior reduction of disorder. The most often encountered mechanism that increases
the entropy of the environment is the release of heat from the subsystem, usually by
conduction and radiation. There will be an optimal activity depending on energy
and material flow. Thus, included in any measure of activity is the effectiveness for
a system to gather needed external energy and supplies, and to vent heat and remove
spent waste material.
Reproducibility gives advantage to subsystems, in that many copies can utilize
resources to a greater extent than one can. Those subsystems which can limit
reproduction when resources are low will have an added advantage. If the subsystem
is a life system with information stored in memory, making a new individual with
fresh structure and new memory capacity may be more adaptable than redoing the
parents, particularly when the environment is changing. 5 If the progeny also have
slightly different structural coding, and suffer changes in the environment, those
with greater survivability have an advantage. This also means a finite lifetime for
individuals may also have an advantage. The span of life should be sufficient to
protect and train the next generation, and to take advantage of learned skills.
The universal factors, stability, adaptability, viability, and activity, cannot be
simultaneously maximized. For example, stability and mutability are counteracting
traits. With time, nature finds a system approaching an optimal combination of the
relevant factors, given the natural constraints and the environmental conditions.
15.3 Major Thresholds in the Development of Order
Ordering is a process of accumulating information. Life systems first used information stored on molecules to be able to recreate new molecules, and then organisms.
Further information added to the molecules made the activity of life further capable
of survival. New flexible storage through proteins regulators allowed for variable
responses to variable environments. Information for producing chemical transmitter
systems, hydraulic systems and ganglions permitted coordination among many
5 This is an argument against immortality!