Quite right. There is a fourth law of thermodynamics now, it is the science of self organization, once called chaos theory, now called complexity science. It is the mathematics of Darwinian evolution, but an abstract math that can be applied to any complex adaptive system, living or material. It is now known that the mathematics for living evolution is the same for material systems. Only the level of complexity varies.
INVESTIGATIONS THE NATURE OF AUTONOMOUS AGENTS AND THE WORLDS THEY MUTUALLY CREATE
Evolution is set in ...motion by randomness. The mathematics of evolution can be seen in a simple cloud. Which is a system that is at a phase transition between its system specific possibility space. A cloud is neither water or air, but is chaotically jumping between the two. Much as water when at the transition to steam, that narrow window when it's both at the same time.
The 'edge of chaos' is the technical term for a system at this phase transition. This 'edge' state is where classical mechanics completely fail, in math it's simply considered a discontinuity. A place where the chaotic behavior makes deterministic methods entirely futile.
But this chaotic edge state is in fact the realm where self organization occurs. It is where adaptation, self tuning and evolution is generated. The one place where classical methods fail, is the ....source.....of all natural structure and order...of evolution and life.
The very minute one applies objective methods to an evolving system, is the same minute the system is deconstructed to either its static or chaotic states. In the analogy above the system would become either water or air, since classical methods only work at either extreme, not at the edge state.
So you see, objective, deterministic or classical reductionism is completely useless in modeling a ...living or evolving system. As the source of the organization is destroyed by objective measurements. This is also the source of the mystery of the wave and particle duality. When we measure it becomes one or the other, in nature it's at the edge state, and is both at the same time, as in a cloud.
The mathematics of evolution, at its heart, is strikingly simple. See the link below for a great intro into the science of the future, as it's applicable to....any....discipline. Whether in biology, psychology, stock market or religion, it works just fine. It is a universal science of real world systems.
An Introduction to Complex Systems Torsten Reil, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford
People see the enormous complexity of the world around them and assume the mechanisms of order must be as complex. But in truth there is a single and simple underlying mechanism that can produce splendid complexity...all by itself. A person can understand all the disciplines at once, as they all share the same fundamental cause.
Self-Organizing Systems (SOS) FAQ
Randomness forces systems to an edge state, an edge state forces the system to self tune and adapt. Evolution is an inherent and pervasive property of the universe. Spontaneous creation, increasing order and diversity is the norm, not a fluke.
A very readable and complete description of complexity science is at the link below, and all in essay form. Start with the themes and concept links. This page comes across a bit new-agey at first, but give it a chance. There will come a point when all of a sudden...the light switch is turned on...and you'll realize you can take this math anywhere, answer any question, and swim where everyone else sinks.
Jonathan
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