Entropy Reimagined: Order, Complexity, and Transformation

by Tom Golway

This book, "Rethinking Decaying or Optimizing," proposes a fundamental reinterpretation of entropy, shifting from the traditional view of it as a measure of disorder to a more dynamic understanding as a catalyst for optimization and adaptation within systems. The author, Tom Golway, starts by presenting the conventional definition of entropy rooted in thermodynamics, where entropy represents a one-way progression towards disorder in closed systems. He then introduces the concept of chaos theory, highlighting sensitive dependencies as crucial drivers of complex system behavior. He argues that chaos theory offers a new lens to see entropy not as an agent of decay but as a force of adaptive transformation, guiding systems towards optimized configurations. Golway then explores various case studies in nature, such as ecosystems, ant colonies, and weather patterns, to illustrate how entropy acts as a catalyst for self-organization and emergence. He emphasizes that what we perceive as chaos often contains a hidden order that emerges through sensitive dependencies and interconnected interactions within the system. The document goes on to discuss the limitations of traditional measurement methods and proposes a more holistic understanding of entropy that accounts for the complexities of open systems, sensitive dependencies, and the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. Finally, Golway outlines the potential implications of redefining entropy for various scientific fields and for our philosophical understanding of order, complexity, and evolution, urging us to embrace a more integrated and dynamic perspective of entropy as a driving force for adaptive transformation in the universe.

164 pages, Hardcover

Published February 14, 2025

About the author

Tom Golway is a respected Technology thought leader with a diverse background spanning several decades. He has worked across a spectrum of organizations, from technology startups to leading enterprises, to prestigious research institutions. Tom has been at the forefront of technological innovation with roles spanning from Mathematician at MIT to Chief Technology Officer at a startup focused on Intelligent City enablement.

Tom's current work focuses on providing governance to massively distributed applications, including policy-based orchestration, immutable trust fabrics, and infrastructure plasticity. He is also an accomplished author, co-authoring four books on technology strategies and holds patents in blockchain, smart contracts, and anomaly detection.

In addition to his professional achievements, Tom has contributed to the World Economic Forum on subjects like blockchain and the metaverse. He regularly participates in the UN General Assembly Science Summit, where he discusses topics such as open science and geoengineering. Tom is actively involved with the International Science Reserve and regularly participates in prominent events like The Nobel Prize Summit on Climate Change and the UN GA Science Summit on Open Science.

Tom is also a frequent speaker at major events, where he shares his knowledge on emerging technologies and strategies. His insights and expertise have made him a thought leader in the field of IT and emerging technologies.

Reviews

[Miguel Panão · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book but it was a serious disappointment. It seems a book written with AI in the way it is structured, and reimagining entropy without any explanation. Entropy is a concept belonging to thermodynamics and as no agency. It is not a force, not a mechanism, and I found no justification for the reimagining except “just because…” Clausius invention of the word can be reimagined, but not reinvented. If the author wanted to explore a synthesis between the driver behind the unity of chaos, complexity, adaptability, etc. he should have invented a new word, just like Clausius did, not appropriate a word and strip it from its meaning instead of deepening. For these reasons, I was unable to finish the book and do not recommend its reading if you are interested in a deeper understanding of entropy. For that, the Arieh Ben-Naim’s books on entropy, as provocative as they are, become an exceptionally more reliable source of FFT (Food-For-Thought).