ENTROPY AND EVIL |
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| Authors: | Robert John Russell |
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| Affiliation: | Robert John Russell is assistant professor of theology and science in residence at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), Berkeley, and Executive Director of the new Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) at the GTU (2465 Le Conte Avenue, Berkeley, California 94709). |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. This paper explores a possible relationship between entropy and evil in terms of metaphor. After presenting the various meanings of entropy in classical thermodynamics and statical mechanics, and the Augustinian and Irenaean theodicies, several similarities and dissimilarities between entropy and evil are described. Underlying the concepts of evil and entropy is the assumption that time has a direction. After examining the scientific basis for this assumption, it is hypothesized that, if evil is real in nature, entropy is what one would expect to find at the level of physical processes, and conversely that, if entropy is coupled to a physical arrow of time, one could expect to find dissipative yet catalytic processes in history and religious experience. |
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