<<Such a theory stands the 2nd law of thermodynamics on its head.>>
This statement is completely false.
It would only be true if the life form were a closed system,
with energy neither leaving nor entering. But life does not exist as a closed system. Energy input is constantly needed.
OK let's extend our boundaries further, and include a food source. As the life-form grows, it's order increases and hence it's entropy decreases. Aha says the scheptic, a violation of the 2nd Law ! But no, the entropy of the food source increases even more as it is consumed. Together, food plus life source has an increasing entropy. But you say food grows too, so it's entropy is decreasing. That is true while the food is growing, but it's energy for growth comes from another source - the Sun. As the Sun ages and releases energy, it's entropy (Sun + radiant energy) goes up. For the Earth-Sun system together, entropy increases as demanded by the 2nd law.
This line of argument can logically be extended to nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in the Sun, and the release of radiant energy, to the formation of the solar system, to the ensemble of the Galaxy, to the expansion and cooling of the universe. Given an adequately large system, entropy always increases.
When you die, the entropy of your body as a closed system will immediately start to increase. However, the entropy of the organisms promoting your decay will decrease, athough not as much. Life may go on, but entropy always goes up.
This is what my high school physics teacher once told me, and I remember every word to this day (g).
-wg
AI
