The argument against evolution using the second law of thermodynamics is based on a misunderstanding of both the second law and the processes involved in biological evolution. Let's clarify why this argument is flawed:
The second law of thermodynamics, often summarized as "entropy tends to increase in a closed system," is a fundamental principle in physics. It states that in an isolated system, the overall entropy (or disorder) of the system will tend to increase over time. Critics of evolution sometimes claim that this law contradicts the idea of organisms becoming more complex and ordered over generations.
However, this argument fails to recognize a crucial distinction: the second law applies to closed systems, whereas biological systems, such as living organisms, are not closed systems. Organisms are open systems that exchange energy and matter with their environment.
In an open system, like Earth, energy can flow in from the Sun and be used by living organisms to drive the processes that sustain life, such as metabolism and reproduction. The local decrease in entropy associated with the growth and development of organisms is offset by an increase in entropy in the environment, such as the dissipation of heat or the release of waste products.
Biological evolution does not violate the second law because it is not a process that occurs in isolation. Mutations, natural selection, and genetic variation are the driving forces of evolution, leading to the adaptation and diversification of species over time. These processes do not violate the second law of thermodynamics because they are not creating order from disorder in a closed system, but rather they involve the selective retention of beneficial traits within a population.
Moreover, the argument against evolution based on the second law often fails to consider the timescales involved. Evolution occurs over long periods, and any temporary local decreases in entropy associated with the formation of more complex organisms are offset by larger increases in entropy elsewhere.
In summary, the argument against evolution using the second law of thermodynamics is flawed because it misunderstands the scope and application of the second law, and fails to consider the open and dynamic nature of biological systems. Biological evolution is consistent with the laws of thermodynamics and does not contradict the second law.