“Evolution in the biosphere is therefore a necessarily irreversible process defining a direction in time; a direction which is the same as that enjoined by the law of increasing entropy, that is to say, the second law of thermodynamics. This is far more than a mere comparison: the second law is founded upon considerations identical to those which establish the irreversibility of evolution. Indeed, it is legitimate to view the irreversibility of evolution as an expression of the second law in the biosphere.”
Quote by Jacques Monod
Work
Chance and necessity: an essay on the natural philosophy of modern biology
This essay critically examines the concepts of chance and necessity in the context of modern biology. It investigates how these forces shape the evolution of life on Earth, offering a philosophical perspective on the natural processes that govern biological systems. more
Author
Jacques Monod
A renowned biologist and French Nobel laureate, Jacques Monod is known for his research in genetics and molecular biology. He made significant contributions to the discovery of gene regulation and the genetic code. more
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