I am pleased to share with you a recent publication co-authored with Alex Merlo. The paper is an important first step in Alex’s PhD thesis of exploring the politics of the earth system from the point of view of philosophy of science. The paper touches upon classical topics of autonomous and enactive approaches to life and mind, but at a scale that has rarely been the focus of our analysis: thermodynamics at the planetary scale. For those of you interested in climate change, thermodynamics and life, or, from a philosophy of science perspective, on «extremum principles» (maximum entropy, etc.), I think the paper has a lot to offer. It also has important political implications. We have been motivated to debunk fatalism, which is almost a kind of zeitgeist among many today. Reactionary postmodern authors like Nick Land, who rest the collective mind on the accelerator of turbocapitalism, are among our covert targets. But generally, the paper builds systematic arguments against all those approaches that leave human and biological agency at the corner of maximimization principles (with alleged thermodynamic foundations): «there is nothing we can do to stop our fate but to accelerate or decelerate the inevitable increase of entropy». It turns out, we argue, that what characterizes life on earth (that it, the only life we know) is its capacity to organize thermodynamic gradients to increase the diversity and frugality of life. It is time we also start to do so.
- Merlo, A., & Barandiaran, X. E. (2024). Beyond fatalism: Gaia, entropy, and the autonomy of anthropogenic life on Earth. Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics, 24, 61–75. https://doi.org/10.3354/esep00213
ABSTRACT: The current disruption of ecosystems and climate systems can be likened to an increase in entropy within our planet. This concept is often linked to the second law of thermodynamics, which predicts a necessary rise in entropy resulting from all material and energy-related processes, including the intricate organisation of living systems. Consequently, discussions surrounding the ongoing crisis commonly carry an underlying sense of fatalism when referencing thermodynamic principles. In this study, we explore how the understanding of life has been harmonized with thermodynamics to show that entropy production is a consequence of heightened complexity in life rather than its breakdown. Furthermore, it is crucial to perform a thermodynamic analysis of the Earth system as a whole to dispel fatalistic assumptions. The extremum principles linked to thermodynamics do not foretell the precise evolution of complex organisations but rather set the thermodynamic boundaries associated with their development. Ultimately, treating the Earth system as an integrated autonomous entity in which life and human societies play pivotal roles is essential for charting a sustainable path forward for humanity. Understanding how to contribute to thermodynamic states that are more conducive to life, rather than hastening the journey towards disordered states, is paramount for human survival and well-being in the Anthropocene era.
Xabier E. Barandiaran 