Tendency to use entropy to explain everything

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the tendency to use the concept of entropy as an explanatory tool across various domains of physics, including relativity and quantum mechanics. Participants explore the reasons behind this inclination and the implications of viewing physical laws through the lens of entropy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the appeal of entropy lies in its probabilistic reasoning, which can provide a perspective that makes phenomena appear spontaneous rather than arbitrary.
  • One participant questions the existence of a widespread tendency to use entropy in this manner, indicating skepticism about its universality.
  • Another participant challenges the notion of a tendency, asking for specific examples that illustrate this claim.
  • There are references to non-mainstream research approaches that attempt to apply entropy to gravity and quantum logic, suggesting that while these ideas may not be widely accepted, they represent a significant line of inquiry.
  • A participant shares their personal research direction, proposing that viewing physical processes as computations combined with statistical inference could lead to deeper explanations, despite the lack of mainstream acceptance.
  • Concerns are raised about the challenges of starting with a universal objective microstructure, with a suggestion that entropic forces may need to be understood as conditional upon observers and their respective contexts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the existence and significance of a tendency to use entropy as an explanatory framework. While some acknowledge its potential, others remain skeptical and question its applicability across all areas of physics.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the terms "everything" and "tendency" may require clarification, and there is an acknowledgment that many of the discussed ideas are outside mainstream research programs. The discussion highlights the complexity and conditionality of applying entropy in various contexts.

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Why is there a tendency to use the concept of entropy to explain everything from relativity to quantum mechanics. Why people think this concept is so satisfactory?
 
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kent davidge said:
Why is there a tendency to use the concept of entropy to explain everything from relativity to quantum mechanics. Why people think this concept is so satisfactory?

I think because its based on probabilistic reasoning, and if you can find the right perspective where something looks to be spontaneous rather than ad hoc, then that is indeed the ultimate explanation. And then the reason it looks non-trivial, is because we observe things from ANOTHER perspective.

/Fredrik
 
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kent davidge said:
Why is there a tendency to use the concept of entropy to explain everything from relativity to quantum mechanics.

Everything? I don't think so.
 
kent davidge said:
Why is there a tendency to use the concept of entropy to explain everything from relativity to quantum mechanics

What makes you think there is such a tendency? Please give specific examples.
 
One can of course question the words "everything" and "tendency". These tendencies are certainly outside the mainstream research programs however, so much is clear. So maybe it should be left at that and not dicussed here?

But I felt hit by the question and focused on the why part.

We have for example attemps for gravity, And also Ariels more general approach, including attemps for quantum logic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropic_gravity
Verlindes gravity - https://arxiv.org/abs/1001.0785
From Information Geometry to Newtonian Dynamics, Ariel C, https://arxiv.org/abs/0710.1071, https://arxiv.org/abs/0808.1260, https://www.albany.edu/physics/ACaticha-EIFP-book.pdf

My own personal research is also very much in this direction, and there are parallells to the ideas to abstract physical process as "computations", and when you combined that with statistical inference, there are many very exciting deep possibilites to "explain" things in a very deep way. So even if i agree that this is not mainstream, there exists such a tendencies and the logic behind them is imo sound.

The ultimate vision here is that the LAWS of physics themselves are to be understood as equations to state, ie. as equilibrium conditions. Its then easy to understand the advantages this may have for unification of laws IF successful. So there is great potential.

But to put the finger on the main problem. None so far has been terribly successful and i think its because many attempt to start with an universal objective microstructure, but this unavoidable IMO will cause problems with many things. So I think the "entropic forces" must be understand to be conditional upon observers, and thus - like any computation - relative to the hardware. What is natural or easy depdends on the hardware.

I will leave it there.

/Fredrik
 

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