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Systems Thinking Ontario – 2022-03-14

2022-03-14

March 14 (the second Monday of the month, besides being Commonwealth Day in Canada that isn’t a statutory holiday!) is the 98th meeting for Systems Thinking Ontario. The registration is at https://entropy-systems-thinking.eventbrite.ca .

Entropy: How does the Second Law of Thermodynamics change our thinking?

Entropy, the second law of thermodynamics, is foundational to the systems sciences. Since the field aims for isomorphies (i.e. patterns that apply across many disciiplines), a variety of interpretations of entropy can create a lot of confusion!

David L. Hawk, in his 2019 book, remarks:

“Entropy, something I had no idea about when first told, then began to understand it on second encounter, then knew I would never understand it when I met it the third time. Then, not being able to ever get over it on fourth encounter.” [….]

“For Einstein, then Steven Hawking, the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics was sacrosanct. [,,,,] Many leading scientists have gone deeper in arguing why they agree with Einstein, then Hawking, and feel so strongly about entropy is a supreme law of nature and must be factored into what humans do.”

With this caution, David Hawk has agreed to guide us towards some understanding of entropy, and how it shapes (or misshapes!) the human condition.

The pre-reading list, below, has been annotated, to encourage participants to gain some familiarity in advance of the interactive discussion.

2022-03-14March 14 (the second Monday of the month, besides being Commonwealth Day in Canada that isn’t a statutory holiday!) is the 98th meeting for Systems Thinking Ontario. The registration is at https://entropy-systems-thinking.eventbrite.ca .Entropy: How does the Second Law of Thermodynamics change our thinking?

Systems Thinking Ontario – 2022-03-14