Niche constructors concluded to a neutral directum kinematics relative to relative frequency differences. Neutral evolution could also detail amorphic structuring (random lumps on a prior differentiation) but conceptually the notion is retainable by reading both MacArthur and Hutchinson on the niche (Population Biology and Evolution Edited by Richard C. Lewontin 1968 Syracuse University Press pp 159-177 The Theory of the Niche by R. MacArthur & 177-187 When are Species Necessary? by G.E. Hutchinson )
This would be hereditary transmission of mutable information a la Waddington op. cit. page 37.
quote:
It is essential that biologists should be as careful and precise as possible in formulating an adequate and profound theory of evolution, since it is now widely recognized that this is the most central theory in the whole of biology. In the first quarter of this century the most influential biologists considered that the basic characteristics of life is to be sought in the metabolic activites of living things. A biological system, they pointed out, is one which takes in relatively simple substances from its surroundings and elaborates these into more complex substances. It appears to operate in a manner directly opposed to the second law of thermodynamics. Later it was realized that these apparent contradictions of fundamental physical law are only temporary, and indeed, occur only in parts of the total system and not in the complete system which comprises both the living organism and its environment. The search for a fundamental theory of biology then shifted towards genetics. A living system began to be regarded as basically one in which there is hereditary transmission of mutable information.
Thus something illegal as to matter may not be in form.
The amorphic form, say like a lump of mashed potatoes or a clump of clouds, one that has not intrinsic symmetry, is cognized in multidimensional space connecting taxanomic and niche space. Now without reducint this framework to essentials, one must remand MacArthur’s ,
People who insist that all such terms be operational will reject niche just as they must reject phenotype and genotype as involving an infinite number of measurements; but some statements about differences between niches are perfectly testable, which is all that mattersp160-1.
Hutchinson wrote,
It is to be noted that if the transformation is achieved by means of exclusively montonic functions, the clusters will maintain their identities, not overlapping each other. At first sight it would seem, however, that in the new space N these boundaries would be very much closer together than in T. (T=taxanomic space, N=niche space (added by BSM) A very large class of points in T would, if clusters are formed and adaptive peaks exist, represent poorly adapted genomes, while in N provided the environmental extremes are avoided, all points points should represent habitable environments. It is, however,m always possible that a number of points in N represent environmental conditions that do not happen to be present in the biotope under consideration. We return to ans aspect of this later ...
One/you has/have to conceive the intitial conditions such as to force the boundaries FARTHER than in T.
The discipline of macrothermodyanmiocs has appeared to me to return just such a geometry lest my analysis is faulty. That is ever present indeed but unlikely.
The unit might however exist symmetrically and still go unsynthesized to my comments on Carnap on EVC.
quote:
ABSTRACT
The classical formulations of the second law of thermodynamics are presented. Some mistakes in the understanding the physical meaning of this general law of nature are noted. It is asserted that many misunderstandings of the second law of thermodynamics are related to terminological confusion and the underestimation (the disregard) of the theory developed by J.W. Gibbs and other founders of "true thermodynamics," which is impossible to disprove. To a certain approximation, R.Clausius and J.W. Gibbs' thermodynamics is applied to describing the evolution of living systems. This is possible due to the law of temporal hierarchies and the premise that the functions of state of living systems have real physical meaning at practically all hierarchical levels and at every moment of time. Making no pretensions to perfection, the author offers some advice to researchers dealing with thermodynamics. The author believes that, when considering thermodynamic problems, "ambiguous" terms and definitions should be clarified preliminarily in order to preclude possible misunderstandings. It is also advisable to refer to the classical works (including textbooks and encyclopedias) that the authors of publications have used. This will allow the correctness of the results reported to be estimated at least preliminarily.
Keywords: Second law, thermodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, entropy, Gibbs function, Gibbs energy, full differential, law of temporal hierarchies, evolution, living systems, quasi-closed systems.
" the true and only goal of science is
to reveal unity rather than mechanisms"
Henri Poincar
quote:
. Owing to efficient publicity, these colleagues were convinced by hardly comprehensible (in physical terms) formulas and doubtful argumentation. In my opinion, the supporters of Prigogine's theory were, in a sense, deceived. Although Prigogine's theory proved an impasse, it still has its followers. Nevertheless, no numerical data obtained from either experiment or observations have confirmed the theory even at the qualitative level [20, 22].
quote:
THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS AND EVOLUTION OF LIVING SYSTEMS
Georgi P. Gladyshev*
These are from the same reference as in the post you last responded to. Further linkage availble on request.
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