Entropy Theory Of Aging Systems: Humans, Corporations And The Universe

by Daniel Hershey

Overview

Entropy is a measure of order and disorder. If left alone, aging systems go spontaneously from youthful, low entropy and order to old, high entropy and disorder. This book presents the commonality of entropy principles which govern the birth, maturation, and senescent history of aging humans, corporations, and the universe. Mainly we introduce an entropy theory of aging, based on the non-equilibrium thermodynamic ideas of Ilya Prigogine, leading to the thermodynamic concepts of Excess Entropy (EE) and Excess Entropy Production (EEP). We describe the aging process in humans in terms of the EE and EEP concepts. This book also describes the informational entropy theory and equations of Claude Shannon and the six Hershey parameters which trace and mark the lifecycle of corporations. To conclude, this volume uses classical and informational entropy concepts, equations and calculations to explain the birth, evolution, and death of our aging universe, and all of this in relation to the concept of Infinity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848162921
Publisher:	Imperial College Press
Publication date:	08/17/2009
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Dedication v

Introduction ix

Part I Life and Death

Chapter 1 Two Short Stories 3

Part II Entropy, Infinity and God

Chapter 2 Entropy 17

Chapter 3 Infinity 21

Chapter 4 God 25

Part III Lifespan and Factors Affecting It: Humans

Chapter 5 Longevity in Living Systems, Theories and Speculation 33

Chapter 6 Energy, Entropy, Basal Metabolism and Lifespan 49

Part IV Entropy Theory of Aging Systems: Humans

Chapter 7 Entropy and the Life Process 71

Chapter 8 On Time, Longevity and Entropy 97

Chapter 9 Excess Entropy (EE) and Excess Entropy Production (EEP) 125

Part V Entropy Theory of Aging Systems: The Corporation

Chapter 10 Evolving Corporate Systems: Entropy, Aging and Death 133

Chapter 11 Entropy and Size, Structure, Stability, Senescence 141

Chapter 12 Informational Entropy and Shannon 155

Chapter 13 The Corporate Structure 161

Chapter 14 Understanding the Aging Corporation 175

Chapter 15 Hershey Corporate Lifecycle Assessment and Entropy Analysis 183

Part VI Entropy Theory at Aging Systems: The Universe

Chapter 16 The Universe and Beyond 219

Chapter 17 Infinity, Entropy and the Aging Universe 225

Chapter 18 Pressure, Volume, Temperature, Entropy Calculations: The Beginning, The Middle, and The End of the Universe 243

Author Biography 261

Index 263