I have been thinking a lot lately about the fundamental forces (eg, Bernard Baars, John Smythies). These forces feel like building blocks and the ingredients of a “formula”: consciousness, energy, entropy, life, matter and space/time. I think, feel and believe that this “formula” might be: Consciousness + Energy + Entropy + Matter + Space Time = Life.
Life either seems to be the (fundamental) cause or the (random and/or “temporary”) effect of these building blocks. Life is not an ingredient as such.
Nevertheless, even if all building blocks are present, Life may not emerge. Apparently, the “formula” is delicate. Hence, we developed concepts like the (circumstellar) habitable zone or Goldilocks Zone: “the range of orbits around a star within which a planetary surface can support liquid water given sufficient atmospheric pressure.”
A 15 June 2020 study in The Astrophysical Journal claims that “there should be at least 36 civilizations within our [Milky Way] Galaxy” in “the Strong scenario” and “under the strictest set of assumptions”. Excerpt from my recent blog: Convergent evolution (2).
Let’s suppose that this study is valid. In that case, Life should be a (fundamental) cause rather than a (random and/or “temporary”) effect of these building blocks.
Entropy is often translated as “disorder” but actually means “a turning toward” or a “transformation” (vocabulary). It’s difficult to conceive how disorder and/or chaos would be helpful ingredients for developing Life.
One of Life’s greatest mysteries is the transformation – or entropy – from (i) “building blocks” or “ingredients” into non-cellular life (eg, virus), (ii) from non-cellular life into single cellular life (eg, bacteria, fungi), and (iii) from single to multicellular life (eg, animals, plants, trees and humans).
There are some complicating factors in this transformation: (i) astrobiology, (ii) dating of viruses, and (iii) the expansion of the Universe. There is a somewhat similar complexity following the former supercontinent Pangaea and our current seven continents. Hence, given the unknown ageing of viruses, there’s a possibility viruses have extraterrestrial roots (IBT, my 2015 blog).
“Just as the constant increase of entropy is the basic law of the universe, so it is the basic law of life to be ever more highly structured and to struggle against entropy.” A quote by Václav Havel (1936-2011), a Czech statesman, writer and former dissident.
Life (1998) by Des’ree
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
So after all is said and done
I know I’m not the only one
Life indeed can be fun
If you really want to
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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