Quantitative assessment of increasing complexity

L.P. Csernai, S.F. Spinnangr and S. Velle

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2017, vol. 473, issue C, 363-376

Abstract: We study the build up of complexity on the example of 1 kg matter in different forms. We start with the simplest example of ideal gases, and then continue with more complex chemical, biological, life, social and technical structures. We assess the complexity of these systems quantitatively, based on their entropy. We present a method to attribute the same entropy to known physical systems and to complex organic molecules, up to a DNA molecule. The important steps in this program and the basic obstacles are discussed.

Keywords: Entropy; Complexity; Development; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:473:y:2017:i:c:p:363-376

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2016.12.091

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