The most popular scientific hypotheses regarding the origins of life (at least Earth-life) cite primordial chemical oceans, extreme heat and weather, as well as pure chance as the likely reasons for the emergence of life on our planet. This article deals with a theory by an MIT physicist by the name of Jeremy England. England's theory is quite different as it does away with the need for luck and chance and attempts to explain the origins of life from particle level. He theorizes that the reason for life can be boiled down to the second law of thermodynamics. This law states that the total entropy of an isolated system always increased over time, or remains constant in ideal cases where the system is in a steady state or undergoing a reversible process. More simply stated, systems that are losing energy tend to continue to do so faster and faster. An good example of this would be a campfire. The reaction within the wood that sustains the flames will slowly die down the longer it burns. The logs will produce less and less heat as the system experiences entropy. England's theory works off this law. Groups of atoms that experience energy input from external sources (stars, chemicals, radiation, etc.) often restructure themselves in order to release more energy as it is being put in. Since particles are in constant and very rapid motion, they inevitably reach configurations that spread the energy out evenly. This is called "thermodynamic equilibrium." So then, the basis of this theory is that under the right conditions life would naturally and inevitably emerge as matter structured itself to release more and more of the energy it is receiving from its environment as well as spread that energy out evenly. Those "right conditions" for Earth-life still may seem a bit reliant on luck and chance from a human perspective. However, on a cosmic scale is it rather common for these conditions to become a possibility. Astronomers report, based on Kepler data, that there may be as many as 40 billion Earth-sized planets orbiting in habitable zones in the Milky Way alone. It is important to note that this theory is not a replacement for Darwinian theory but rather it is supplemental to it. Darwin's work explains the diversity of life on the planet quite well but it offers little explanation regarding the origins of life. This theory truly builds upon it and would only increase the validity of the theory of evolution. It is interesting to note that as life evolves on this planet, it uses more and more energy. Typically, the more complex life becomes, the more energy it typically dissipates. This is another key aspect of England's ideas. Matter seems to have a "built in" or "pre-programmed" nature to dissipate the most energy it can in equilibrium. Citing the article linked at the bottom of this post, "Particles tend to dissipate more energy when they resonate with a driving force, or move in the direction it is pushing them, and they are more likely to move in that direction than any other at any given moment. “This means clumps of atoms surrounded by a bath at some temperature, like the atmosphere or the ocean, should tend over time to arrange themselves to resonate better and better with the sources of mechanical, electromagnetic or chemical work in their environments,” England explained." What better way to accomplish this than by creating self-replicating material structures that absorb and transform energy? You know, life? This could also explain some of the naturally occurring structures of inanimate objects. What does this say about consciousness? Of course, this theory doesn't directly tell us much about consciousness at all. Those who believe in a purely material universe may attempt to explain the phenomena of consciousness as being yet another way to dissipate energy via this theory. However, those materialists would likely miss the truth of that idea. It is assumed that the readers of this page are typically more esoterically minded and understand that consciousness likely does not have its origins in our material brains. Remembering that old Hermetic axiom, "AS ABOVE, SO BELOW" we can see that if this theory holds true then it would have to correspond with the 'higher' reality/dimension of consciousness. If consciousness is thought of as simply a form of energy then the true implications of England's theory begin to be apparent. This would mean that not only did life spring forth to dissipate common types of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics but that it has evolved to become able to dissipate consciousness as well. It is clear that the more evolved life forms on this planet have more self-awareness and thus can be thought of as simply being more adapted to receive, equalize, and dissipate consciousness. Not only is this reflected in England's groundbreaking new theory, it is reflected in observable scientific fact as well. The Universe has been observed to be expanding at a faster and faster rate. How would that fit in with this theory? Is the Universe expanding to reach thermodynamic equilibrium? Would that mean that one of the functions of material existence is to 'expand consciousness' in similar effort? This all certainly fits in neatly with many of the occult and esoteric philosophies. Perhaps we are here simply to gain experience, knowledge, and thus equilibrium via expansion. Material existence evolved to self-replicate. Does it not seem likely that consciousness has done the same thing? Just as the material universe will expand until it reaches thermodynamic equilibrium, so shall the conscious universe. Every atom and molecular body in the universe is seeking only to maintain a structure that allows energy to dissipate equally and efficiently. Each particle within those bodies maintains its rightful place in that equalized structure. What does this say about us as individuals? What does this mean for our subjective consciousness? As these great strides are being made in science and particularly in the field of quantum physics we inch closer and closer to answering these questions and more. What we know intuitively will be proven in the realm of logic. The two will be reconciled. Science moves closer and closer to this bright future. http://www.businessinsider.com/groundbreaking-idea-of-lifes-origin-2014-12The readers are encouraged to click the above link and read the article after this one. Jeremy England is the MIT physicist who has been pursuing and developing this theory. This is a theory that we will be watching very, very closely for a number of reasons. If it holds true, well that is obviously a huge leap forward for science. At minimum, it has and will continue to spark conversation about the possibilities.
What do you think about all of this? Leave us a comment below to start the discussion.
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