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The functional order maintained within living systems seems to defy the Second Law; nonequilibrium thermodynamics describes how such systems come to terms with entropy.

— Ilya Prigogine Thermodynamics of Evolution (1972)

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More quotes by Ilya Prigogine

We have seen that the formation and maintenance of self-organizing systems are compatible with the laws of physical chemistry.”

Thermodynamics of Evolution (1972)

The ideas of nonequilibrium order and of the search for stability extend Darwin’s concept back to the prebiotic stage by redefining the “fittest”.

Thermodynamics of Evolution (1972)

Coherent behavior is the characteristic feature of biological systems.

In an isolated system, which cannot exchange energy and matter with the surroundings, this tendency is expressed in terms of a function of the macroscopic state of the system: the entropy.”

Thermodynamics of Evolution (1972)

The evolution of a physicochemical system leads to an equilibrium state of maximum disorder.

Thermodynamics of Evolution (1972)

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