The Nature of Consciousness : The Structure of Reality: Theory of Everything Equation Revealed : Scientific Verification and Proof of Logic God Is

Book Description

This book describes how understanding the structure of reality leads to the Theory of Everything Equation. The equation unifies the forces of nature and enables the merging of relativity with quantum theory. The book explains the big bang theory and everything else.

Customer Reviews:

The Real Deal.......2006-09-25

Although Mr. Wheatley is a little verbose in sections, his documentation of Zen Buddhistic Principles found throughout the disciplines of Mathematics, Physics, Theology, etc. forms a nice reference guide for anyone tuned into that wavelength. In particular, his explanation of how Godel's Theorem and Cantor's "Confusion" shed great light on the difference between GOD's Logic and Man's Logic should be a revelation to any undergraduate level math students who encounter these ideas for the first time. Curiously, Mr. Wheatley makes many misstatements about both Zen Buddhism Principles and the Bible, however. For example, by accepting the false biblical teaching of Original Sin, he misses the point that eating the proverbial apple gave Adam and Eve the ability to make Moral Discernments in fulfillment of GOD'S PERFECT PLAN. As proof, read Genesis 1 which states that Man and Woman were made in GOD's Image. Genesis 4 shows that Adam and Eve weren't the first humans on Earth at all, there were plenty of others by then. The allegorical meaning of the story of Eden, then, isn't that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth, but they were the first humans with the ability to make Moral Discernments (in GOD's Image). In fact, Moral Discernment is God's Unique Gift to Man, which is the basis of consciousness, not some Math Formula. But because the wages of the resulting, unavoidable sin are Death, many people foolishly try to return to Eden by: (1) living a sinless Life (2) by removing choice altogether by passing and enforcing strict Laws (3) by attempting to do away with Moral Discernment and the resulting consequences for our actions altogether by trying to remove Shame from Shameful actions. GOD is not some ethereal Man-In-Space, but is simply the Totality of all Real Things, The Set of All Real Sets. GOD's Love manifests itself from the amazing sub-atomic relationships that underly this magic Life all the way to the grandest of Macroscopic Scales, the Interconnected Totality itself. The Zen Buddhism connection can be found by simply superimposing the 0 symbol and the symbol for infinity (8 on its side) in Mr. Wheatley's supposedly "new" formulation that 1 = 0 x infinity. Superimposing them gives you the yin-yang symbol. A potential disadvantage of artificially separating the infinity from the zero, however, is that Mr. Wheatley is able to equate the entire expression to be equal to 1. This potentially might obscure the fact that the deepest meaning of the yin-yang symbol is that it is both 2 and 1 AT THE SAME TIME. His overall equation does preserve that important meaning by utilizing a single element on one side of the equation and two elements on the other side of his final TOE equation. This may be hard to see for some at first, however, which could potentially obscure the richest meaning of this beautiful symbol/equation. A much more GODLY TOE, in my opinion, comes from Euler, who discovered that e ^ (i * pi) - 1 = 0. When someone can explain that relationship, then they can say they know GOD.

A life changing experience??.......2005-06-13

This book is an easy read and does succeed in being somewhat thought-provoking. However, I am a little surprised at the awesome, "life changing" experience it apparently was for many of the readers. Wheatley's conclusions were interesting but nothing really new. All of his material should have passed through the mind of any thinking person without the aid of this book.
The reason I gave this book three stars is because he uses unneccessarily wordy ways of describing simple things. Also, the author and many other reviewers insist that Wheatley makes only one assumption. Wrong-his whole theory is one big assumption.
Overall though it was a very interesting and worthy book.

Should be Required Reading for everyone.......2004-06-26

This book will change your life. You will never think the same way you did before reading it.
I have a degree in chemistry and I think this book should be read by everyone in the sciences. Without a doubt, the best book I've ever read. Why and what are two of our best friends

A Very Important Book.......2004-01-26

I must preface my review by stating that I have never been so excited and moved by a book that I have wanted to contact the author. That is what I found myself doing upon reading this book. This book is just what its title says. The author does not "miss a beat" describing in great detail using practically every aspect of scientific knowledge from atomic structure through logic to quantum theory---we are even given a valuable explanation of Love. This text may be challenging to read for those unfamiliar with scientific terminology. And it can also be difficult for those with a science background, such as myself. However, for me it is well worth the work necessary to strive to understand the unfamiliar terminology. (I am continually learning from this book. I am presently on my third reread).

One of the author's main messages is "not" to believe anything without first verifying it with reality, as we know it. He calls it the "Personal Explanation Principle". He indicates that religions are just such belief systems that we as people "fall" victims of; because we do not verify the beliefs with the facts, as we know them, of reality. He gives a very detailed explanation of how the New Testament can be explored using his methodology.

The author methodically and meticulously walks us through his thought processes, which took 30 years to assimilate, of delineating the structure of reality and the nature of consciousness. Included in the "walk" are many of reality's phenomena made revelatory. An example of that, for me, would be the dual nature of light. It's particle/wave duality, which is explained as "functions". Also, when the author took me on the mental journey of "Setness" an exhilaration of the magnificence of life swelled up in me.

To me this is a very important book that should be read by all that are seekers of truth. It is for all those wanting to gain an understanding of the purpose for their existence, wanting to know where life is headed towards, and wanting to know who God is.

This book will enlighten and develop one's mind substantially. You will discover that this is our objective.

And yes, I contacted the author and he responded openly.

Illuminating!!!.......2002-12-30

This is a really great book. It combines philosophy and science in order to tackle a multitude of existential problems. The author's style of writing is fresh and alive, I recommend ths book to anyone interested in expanding the fronteirs of their understanding. Books I also liked are a Universe in an Nutshell by Steven Hawkings and Descent into Illusions by Paul Omeziri.

Genetic Entropy & the Mystery of the Genome

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A tragic misrepresentation of reality - read at your peril
Extremely Important Study of Latest Genome Research
Prof. Sanford's population genetics points
A few quibbles on presentation, but fascinating read
A Great Critique of the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis

Genetic Entropy & the Mystery of the Genome
John C. Sanford
Manufacturer: Ivan Press
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The Edge of Evolution: The Search for the Limits of Darwinism
Billions of Missing Links: A Rational Look at the Mysteries Evolution Can't Explain
Darwinian Fairytales: Selfish Genes, Errors of Heredity, and Other Fables of Evolution
Darwin Strikes Back: Defending the Science of Intelligent Design
A Meaningful World: How the Arts And Sciences Reveal the Genius of Nature

ASIN: 1599190028

Book Description

Dr. John Sanford, a retired Cornell Professor, shows in Genetic Entropy and the Mystery of the Genome that the "Primary Axiom" is false. The Primary Axiom is the foundational evolutionary premise - that life is merely the result of mutations and natural selection. In addition to showing compelling theoretical evidence that whole genomes can not evolve upward, Dr. Sanford presents strong evidence that higher genomes must in fact degenerate over time. This book strongly refutes the Darwinian concept that man is just the result of a random and pointless natural process.

Customer Reviews:

A tragic misrepresentation of reality - read at your peril.......2007-09-21

Here's an example of how easy it is to dispose of the arguments Sandford presents in his book:

Sandford says that the problem is not survival of the fittest but arrival of the fittest, since information theory proves noise (mutation) can only degrade, not improve a signal. Sounds fair enough?

However, 'degrade' and 'improve' in information theory only refer to the accuracy with which a transmitted message is received. Of course, noise cannot make a signal a MORE accurate version of what was sent. But information theory says nothing at all about the value of the modified message to the recipient.

Easy to follow example: say a bank transfer for £100 is accidentally corrupted, and becomes a transfer of £1000. Good, or bad? Depends on whether you're paying or being paid! Same goes for if it is corrupted to £10 - its value to you depends upon context. Either change represents a degradation of the original signal - it's not what it SHOULD have been - but that's irrelevant when considering whether or not the modified signal is of greater or lesser value to the recipient.

Now, if you think an author who can miss something as obvious as that is worth listening to on a subject as complex as evolution, by all means buy his book.

Extremely Important Study of Latest Genome Research.......2007-09-04

Sanford proves definitively that natural selection has never been up to the job of weeding out the overwhelming number of slightly harmful mutations and therefore the human genome and other animal and plant genomes have been deteriorating for a long time. Also he shows that natural selection has never been able to detect and accumulate any slightly favorable mutations. Evolution desperately needs a new paradigm. The present paradigm of mutation - selection has been a big joke ever since it was introduced 70 years ago.

Prof. Sanford's population genetics points.......2007-06-12

Prof. John Sanford's population genetics points are also directly relevant to prebiotic molecular evolution models. Although written for laymen, the book contains solid academic content. The unavoidable conclusions will have far-reaching impact, and are of great significance to macroevolutionary thought. This book is a must read for academics and lay readers alike.

A few quibbles on presentation, but fascinating read.......2007-01-18

The Darwinists are going to have to address the actual allegations in this book. Dr. Sanford makes a convincing case that the genome is, and must, deteriorate. Simply put, he explains what is known about how DNA works and shows that any possible improvements must of necessity be accompanied by many more deleterious mutations.
I thought the book could have been a bit better organized, and some of the language was imprecise. I did not notice that he ever provided a working definition of "fitness." Aside from these quibbles, the overall message is quite convincing.
Note to Libb Thims: your review would be more effective if you addressed the substance of the book and forbore ad hominems.
Note to L Batik: See Appendix 4 beginning on page 189.

A Great Critique of the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis.......2006-12-23

This is a great popular-level work that analyzes the merits of the neo-Darwinian synthesis (i.e. the theory that random mutation + natural selection working through long periods of time created...oops, I used the `C' word...ahem!...resulted in...the existence of higher forms of life) and shows it to be an illusory solution to the existence of life. Rather than discussing whether or not a completely naturalistic form of evolution happened using such things as the fossil record or experimental laboratory results, Sanford analyzes the merits of the combination of chance and necessity acting on the genome of biological organisms in abstract (i.e. using statistical mathematics). Now, before you jump ship and assume that he is arguing that "the chances of such and such evolving into such and such is one chance in ten to the blah, blah, blah (really big number) power", like a few creationists have, you're wrong. Rather, he looks at the basic assumptions of neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory (NDET from now on) and compares them to what actually happens in nature. In other words, he contrasts how the ND assumption and the actual workings of nature differ greatly in their results. I will elucidate in my description of some of the chapters below.

Before I get to the review of the chapters, I would like to comment on something. It has been noted that Sanford is a young-earth creationist, and for some reason, that is like the plague to certain people. However, any honest reader of this book will also note that anyone (i.e. Christian and non-Christian) could have written the first nine (out of ten) chapters. Only in the tenth chapter does he make an argument for the historicity of Scripture. Even if it wasn't that way, Dr. Sanford, who possesses a doctorate in genetics and the inventor of the gene-gun, deserves to be heard. Now, to the chapters:

Chapter 1
Here, he discusses the basics of genetics (i.e. genes, nucleotides, genotype, phenotype, etc.) and explains what the neo-Darwinian synthesis is. He then goes through and refutes the famous computer algorithm argument used by Dawkins in The Blind Watchmaker.

Chapter 2
Here is where we start getting into the analysis of NDET. Sanford discusses the statistical distribution of mutational effects (i.e. the magnitude of good and bad mutations affecting fitness) and their frequency. Sanford points out a number of differences between NDET and reality:

A. NDET posits that most mutations are neutral. However, Sanford argues that there is no such thing as a truly "neutral" mutation. Rather, most mutations are "near-neutral" (whether increasing fitness or decreasing fitness). Even a single point-nucleotide mutation in a minor area of the genome disrupts the genetic code to some degree (no matter how small). This is key for the rest of his book.
B. The naïve view of mutational distribution is a bell curve (though many Darwinists recognize that the actual distribution found in nature is nothing like it). The real distribution is a Kimura curve (named after the *Darwinist* population geneticist who created it) where the *vast* majority of the curve is near-neutral. Sanford notes that if the normal distribution (i.e. "bell curve") was true, then an increase in complexity would be inevitable. However, with the Kimura curve, it is hard to see any substantial increase in fitness "getting off the ground" so-to-speak.
C. NDET acknowledges that most mutations are harmful, but doesn't suggest that the ratio is so small as to never allow an increase in fitness that would affect a population. Contrary to that assumption, the actual ratio, as noted by the population geneticists (most of whom are Darwinists!) whom Sanford cites, is so small that population geneticists don't even place the beneficiary curve on the distribution graph! The ratio that Sanford cites (again, from the population geneticists) is between 10,000 to 1,000,000 harmful mutations for every one beneficial (though probably closer to the former figure rather than the latter). Sanford chooses to be conservative, and for the rest of the book, he assumes the 10k ratio. Keep this in mind when the next point is cited.
D. NDET assumes that natural selection will take out all of the bad mutations and leave only the good (notice that that was a near quote of Darwin himself). However, citing the population geneticist, Kimura, for support, Sanford notes that there is a "zone of near-neutrality" on both the beneficial and harmful sides of the curve in which natural selection doesn't select for or against. This is due to the fact that most mutations are point-nucleotide mutations. These only cause an ever-so-slight decrease in fitness that natural selection can't "see" them 99% of the time. It would be like a single pixel on your television screen going out. Would you really be able to tell a difference? Furthermore, since the beneficiary mutations curve is so small (see point C. above), the "zone of near-neutrality" (a.k.a. the "no-selection box") covers 99% of the beneficiary mutation side of the distribution! This ensures that natural selection will never see 99% of the good mutations while allowing the bad (which are vastly greater in number) to accumulate. Thus, the genome will suffer from "genetic entropy" (and hence the title of the book).

Now, a typical reply (which is, in fact, found below in one of the negative reviews) is that biologists have witnessed and documented such beneficiary mutations that have given great benefit to organisms in their environment. However, many biologists are becoming aware that the vast majority of these changes in phenotype are due to "pre-programmed" changes in the genome, not random ones as NDET demands. Secondly, as Sanford points out in Appendix 4, many of these "beneficial" mutations actually end up giving the organism a net decrease in fitness (as in the case of homeostasis in cold-climate creatures to warm climates or drug-resistant bacteria) making them deleterious in reality!

Chapter 3
Here, he starts to go into human population genetics. He cites several twentieth century population geneticists who believed that if there were as many as 0.5 deleterious mutations per person per generation, then the human race would be doomed to extinction. He then cites the actual number of 100 deleterious mutations per person per generation! This is a topic that he comes back to in other chapters of his book. However, from now on, I will concentrate on the implications for NDET. Next, he debunks the junk-DNA and pseudo-gene myth (i.e. those genes really do have a function as scientists are now finding out).

Chapter 4
In this chapter, he discusses the actual power of natural selection as found in nature compared to that which is presupposed by NDET. He notes that most biologists see natural selection as a "magic wand" that eliminates any decrease in complexity while preserving all those changes and variations which give an increase in fitness. Here, he points out a few more problems with NDET when it is contrasted with reality:

E. NDET presupposes that each individual nucleotide is selected for or against. This is a necessary presupposition for all (or even most) deleterious mutations to be selected out (since most mutations are point-nucleotide mutations). In reality, however, it is an entire gene that is selected for or against. In combination with the 10,000 bad to good mutation ratio, this will ensure that for every (random) beneficial mutation that occurs on a gene, there will be (on average) 10,000 bad ones of the same magnitude (as that of the good). This is what Sanford calls "Muller's Ratchet" (named after another population geneticist). Even if a gene with a beneficial mutation is selected for, it will carry many, many more deleterious ones with it. This inevitably causes genetic entropy, not a complexity increase.
F. While he noted, in chapter 2, that natural selection doesn't see most of the mutations that occur in the genome (i.e. the "near-neutral" ones which comprise 70-80% of all the bad and 99% of all good), the problem is actually worse due to environmental "noise". Environmental "noise" is simply the fact that random environmental factors affect who survives to a much greater degree than general fitness. For example, a tree may have greater fitness than that of another tree. However, if the seed of the one with greater fitness lands in a deep valley with little sunlight, and the other lands on a hill that receives proper sunlight, then the one with lesser fitness will survive. In fact, the population geneticist, Kimura (remember: a Darwinist himself), estimates that heritability due to phenotypic superiority (i.e. fitness) is as low as 0.4%! Thus, the "no-selection" box is increased *several* fold, ensuring that the vast majority of all bad mutations will go unnoticed by natural selection, and 99.99% of all beneficial mutations will also go unnoticed. So, while NDET assumes that all (or almost all) selection is due to general fitness, reality says that only about 1/250 of all selection is due to general fitness.
G. While not stated explicitly, NDET presupposes an infinite selection "bank" from which it can assume that all members of a population without a superior genotype can be killed off, leaving only those with superior fitness. [Otherwise, the beneficial mutation would be diluted when it is mingled with the rest of the population.] In reality, however, the selection cost to make a single beneficial mutation (no matter how small) dominant in a population is near extinction! [Sanford cites Kimura who, after doing the math, estimated that each parent in a population must leave about 3.27 million offspring in order to keep up with the selection pressure!] Thus, even if you kill off almost all of a population to keep one beneficial mutation, you will never be able to stop the deterioration of the genome due to the ratio of bad to good mutations and the resultant in-breeding among such a small population. Again, genetic entropy, not increasing complexity, is inevitable.

Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8
Here, he goes through and refutes various attempts to save NDET from all the problems with it (as mentioned above). Also discussed is the deterioration of the human genome.

Chapter 9
In this chapter, Sanford discusses more of what was discussed in chapters 5-8, but he also throws in several more problems with NDET:

H. NDET assumes that the billions of years (a.k.a. "deep time") that the earth has been in existence is plenty of time for random mutation and natural selection to give rise to the diversity of life found today. [In my personal experience, I have found that even the mention of "deep time" is enough to dispel any doubts a Darwinist has in his heart about NDET!] However, even assuming that the above problems (A.-G.) don't exist, the time needed to make only one beneficial nucleotide mutation dominant in a population is *far* too long for even the "deep time" provided. Sanford cites J.B.S. Haldane, another Darwinian geneticist, who calculated that (again, ignoring problems A.-G. above) it would take 300 generations to make a genetic trait fixed in a population. [Note: 300 generations is a conservative number. The average number found in nature is larger than 300.] So, for example, it would take several billion years for a chimp-like ancestor to evolve into a human (again, assuming only beneficial mutations). This famous problem for neo-Darwinism has historically been known as "Haldane's Dilemma".
I. NDET assumes that DNA is a linear code, and that one change in a sequence won't affect other functions in the phenotype. However, recent discoveries have shown that most DNA sequences are "poly-constrained". That is, DNA sequences can have meanings on several different levels. For example, imagine a coded message that has a valid meaning when read forward, another valid meaning when read backwards, another every 5 letters, and yet another when placed on top of another few messages (making it 3D). This is how most DNA functions, just more complex! Any change in the code could cause an incoherent message, and thus, one good mutation one way might also cause several bad mutations in other ways.
J. Irreducible Complexity. [There has been much debate on this topic, but I agree with Sanford (and Behe for that matter) that direct *and indirect* Darwinian pathways are extremely unlikely (and might as well be impossible). See Behe's Afterword in the 10th anniversary edition of Darwin's Black Box.]

Chapter 10
Sanford concludes that the degeneration of the genome is unstoppable and Darwinism could never have gotten off the ground. Contrary to one reviewer's beliefs about this book, Sanford only spends a few paragraphs on the declining life-spans of the generations of men after Noah. He shows that the life-spans of post-flood man, as recorded in the Bible, follow a curve that is eerily similar to a declining fitness curve found in earlier chapters of this book. In fact, Sanford believes that these recorded life-spans could only have been fabricated if the writer of the Pentateuch (i.e. the 5 books of Moses) used "sophisticated mathematical modeling". Of course, while this makes Christians (like myself) smile with joy, it probably won't convince any non-believers.

Everyone who follows this debate should own this book. Even if you are hostile to anyone that even questions NDET, you should read it since college I.D. clubs are handing this book out to their members and, undoubtedly, biology students. My personal opinion is that Sanford gives a devastating critique of neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory. These are insurmountable problems for NDET, and the math and logic prove it. Instead of climbing up Mount Improbable (using Dawkins' analogy), the genome is tumbling down Mt. Impossible!

Entropy, Information, and Evolution: New Perspective on Physical and Biological Evolution (Bradford Books)

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Entropy, Information, and Evolution: New Perspective on Physical and Biological Evolution (Bradford Books)

Manufacturer: The MIT Press
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Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Can recent developments in thermodynamics and information theory offer a way out of the current crisis in evolutionary theory? One of the most exciting and controversial areas of scientific research in recent years has been the application of the principles of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to the problems of the physical evolution of the universe, the origins of life, the structure and succession of ecological systems, and biological evolution. These sixteen original essays by evolutionists, ecologists, molecular biologists, physical chemists, physicists, and philosophers of science provide the best current summary of this developing research program.

Chapters in the book's first part - by Steven Frautschi, David Layser, and Dilip Kondoputi - explore the application of the second law of thermodynamics to physical evolution and the origins of life. Those in the second part - by Lionel G. Harrison, Lionel Johnson, Eric D. Schneider, and Jeffrey S. Wicken - take up the thermodynamics of ecology and evolution; Johnson and Wicken criticize neoDarwinian orthodoxy and present alternative theories relating thermodynamics to evolutionary ecology. In the book's third section, E. O. Wiley defends the theory that phylogenetic evolution may be predicted from a general version of the second law reformulated in terms of information theory, and Daniel R. Brooks, D. David Cumming, and Paul H. LeBlond also defend that controversial theory.

The book concludes with a series of essays that evaluate these contributions and point out their implications for biology, philosophy, and the social sciences.

The editors are all professors at California State University, Fullerton. Bruce H. Weber teaches chemistry and biochemistry, David J. Depew teaches philosophy, and James D. Smith teaches zoology. A Bradford Book.

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Information, Entropy, and Progress
Robert U. Ayres
Manufacturer: Springer
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0883189119

Book Description

This book presents an innovative and challenging look at evolution on several scales, from the earth and its geology and chemistry to living organisms to social and economic systems. Applying the principles of thermodynamics and the concepts of information gathering and self- organization, the author characterizes the direction of evolution in each case as an accumulation of "distinguishability" information--a type of universal knowledge.

Evolution As Entropy (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series)

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Entropy controls all physical processes, including biology
A blizzard

Evolution As Entropy (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series)
Daniel R. Brooks , and E. O. Wiley
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
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Binding: Paperback

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The End of Certainty

ASIN: 0226075745

Book Description

"By combining recent advances in the physical sciences with some of the novel ideas, techniques, and data of modern biology, this book attempts to achieve a new and different kind of evolutionary synthesis. I found it to be challenging, fascinating, infuriating, and provocative, but certainly not dull."—James H, Brown, University of New Mexico

"This book is unquestionably mandatory reading not only for every living biologist but for generations of biologists to come."—Jack P. Hailman, Animal Behaviour, review of the first edition

"An important contribution to modern evolutionary thinking. It fortifies the place of Evolutionary Theory among the other well-established natural laws."—R.Gessink,TAXON

Customer Reviews:

Entropy controls all physical processes, including biology.......2005-03-28

The laws of thermodynamics dictate that the trend of the universe is towards an increasing state of disorder (entropy increasing). However, that only applies to the entire universe, it is not a violation of the laws to have local increases in order. Therefore, the order that defines living creatures is not a violation of the laws of physics; the increasing entropy of the sun more than balances the decrease in entropy represented by life.
The authors argue that the variety created by the process of evolution is an inevitable consequence of the increase in entropy. There is some obvious justification to their point. New species evolve via changes in genetic structure, some of which is due to recombination and other changes are caused by random alterations in the DNA, which leads to mutation. Since the genetic material that contains the blueprint for a living creature is a compact, highly ordered collection of information, random changes would be an increase in entropy. There is also a great deal of evidence indicating that aging is at least partially due to an accumulation of errors in the DNA, which can be interpreted as an increase in entropy. Since aging and death are necessary preconditions for evolution to take place, the argument that entropy is a driving force for evolution is a sound one. However, that means less than it may appear at first thought. Since an increase in entropy is such a powerful force in the universe, it is a part of every physical process.
A great deal of ink is also spent in describing the role of information in evolution. The authors are also on a sound footing in this area. When a species goes extinct, at least some of the information coded in their genetic complement is lost. This can also be interpreted as going from an ordered to an unordered state, which is an increase in entropy.
While I don't agree with all the arguments put forward in this book, the authors make many very fundamental points regarding the theory of evolution. As near as we can tell, an increase in the entropy of the universe is inevitable. One could argue that by definition, God is a violation of the second law of thermodynamics. Therefore, any theory of physical processes over time must include the role of entropy, which is what the authors do in this book.

A blizzard.......2003-03-11

of mathematical equations from information theory with little or no physical substance. One of the authors (Brooks) appears to be a misplaced mathematician who formally became a zoologist. It should be remembered that General Relativity was first submitted for publication by a mathematician (Hilbert) ahead of a physicist (Einstein) by a matter of weeks (but essentially by theft from Einstein, being a former mentor of Einstein)and dismissed in favour of the physicist as lacking any physical insights.

The late Volkenstein succintly criticized the book in his outstanding book "Physical Approaches to Biological Evolution"
as follows:

"As useless as the book cited above is the book 'Evolution as Entropy'by Brooks and Wiley. The basic proposition in this work is that speciation is controlled by the stochastic premises of the second law of thermodynamics. One may only regret that in the 43 years since the publication of Schrodinger's work [the book 'What is Life?'] a book has appeared whose authors do not understand the role of the second law of thermodynamics in living nature...the authors are concerned only with the amount of information and, hence, with entropy. But, by confining oneself to these concepts alone, one can hardly say anything about evolution...in the world of living things the quality or value of information is often of decisive importance...No appropriate methods have yet been worked out for estimation of the quality of information...

The problem of the origin of valuable information is very important to biology. It can be expressed by the formula:

V = log(P/P0)
where P and P0 are respectively the probabilites of achieving a 'purpose' before and after the information is received.

As we have seen, interesting results can be obtained with the aid of the tentative definition of information value as the indispensability, non-redundancy of information. However, the transition from static information theory, in which time does not figure, to dynamic information theory, which includes reception and memorizing and, hence, time and semantics has not yet been realized in physics.

The molecular theory of orgasmic evolution has not yet been united with the synergistic approaches and its development is beset with formidable difficulties... The key problem of evolutionary theory is the relationship between genotype and phenotype studied at different levels...As we have seen, this problem is missing in systems that are studied in the Eigen theory."

The Answer to the Question
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Good Book, Flawed Premise

The nature of existence 101

This is utter

The Answer to the Question
Fred C. May
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1412022614
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

Who are we really? What is our real purpose? Why is everything the way it is? What will happen to us? The truth is simple. The Answer to the Question.

Customer Reviews:

Good Book, Flawed Premise.......2006-05-17

A good book for those interested in human philosophy, but by no means an answer to the 'question'.

Basing the nature of existence itself on the nature of animal survivalism is like saying the english language is based on this book. Since values and 'importance' exist only in the craniums of higher animals (including humans) and have no say in the actual nature of existence, the entire premise of this book reeks of subjectivity and conjecture inside the bounds of human psychology.

The final result? Definitely NOT a satisfactory answer, at least to anyone willing to acknowledge their own nature before attempting to guess at that of the Universe.

The nature of existence 101.......2005-11-22

The natural energy of existence is in a perpetual cycle that exists beyond time and form. In the beginning of each epoch, matter appears as a single point, with time proceeding and space unfolding. From this beginning of time, ironically powered by the force to decay, forms and degrees of being and awareness evolve. Life, our place, is inside of and part of this process. Everything ultimately decays, leaving only space with no time or dimension. Eternally, like a seasonal cycle, the end of time and form spawns a new epoch.
This simple book, presented as a series of pages of grouped concepts, presents the overall nature of existence and the role of life. From the big bang to the end of time, the energy of the universe discovers itself by making determinations of the answer to the question: "What is important?". These determinations are the "values" given to meaning by life. The book illuminates the character of time, the definition of love, the differences between thought and feeling, the opportunity for choice, the duality of our interests, and the eternal nature of the energy of the universe. The proposal is that we have a reason to determine our values from the higher point of view of our "whole self" and that we reconcile our individual self with these values. In this regard, the nature of existence is an objective truth upon which the framework paridigm of our meaningful subjective thoughts and feelings ring. The truth is simple.

This is utter.......2005-08-05

crap. Just a bunch of Christian rambling with no real imagination. Basically, if you want a Bible reprint, buy this book.

The concept of entropy in landscape evolution, (Theoretical papers in the hydrologic and geomorphic sciences)

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The concept of entropy in landscape evolution, (Theoretical papers in the hydrologic and geomorphic sciences)
Luna Bergere Leopold
Manufacturer: U.S. Govt. Print. Off
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Entropy-Driven Processes in Biology: Polymerization of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Protein and Similar Reactions (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioph)

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The Protein Self-Assembly Bible

Entropy-Driven Processes in Biology: Polymerization of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Protein and Similar Reactions (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioph)
Max A. Lauffer
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

Entropy | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Microbiology | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

The Protein Self-Assembly Bible.......2002-09-19

I am a Ph.D. student in chemistry studying a self-assembling protein. I don't know why I didn't find this book years ago, I may have overlooked it because of the age of the text and concerns that it was too specialized, but it is exactly what I needed all along: a basic, biophysical description of the nature of self-assembly reactions that are entropically driven (as most are: tobacco mosaic virus, actin, sickle cell anemia, etc). The book is mathematical but not at the expense of conceptual content. Suitable for anyone well grounded in basic thermodynamics and physical chemistry. Tobacco mosaic virus is used as a prototype but the principles and techniques are widely applicable and four of the ten chapters discuss other proteins. With the emerging field of self-assembling nanotubes, books like this merit more attention in the future.

Evolution of Complex Systems: Selforganisation, Entropy and Development (Mathematics and its Applications)

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Evolution of Complex Systems: Selforganisation, Entropy and Development (Mathematics and its Applications)
Rainer Feistel , and Werner Ebeling
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Chaos & Systems | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 9027726663

Evolutionary Essays:: Biological Evolution, Entropy, Exergy and Information

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Evolutionary Essays:: Biological Evolution, Entropy, Exergy and Information
S.E. Jorgensen , and Y.M. Svirezhev
Manufacturer: Elsevier Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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