The great but unsung progenitor of this viewpoint is Nicholas Georgescu-
Roegen, an incredibly brilliant mathematical economist who began writing
in the 1930's and continued into the 1990's. The controversial Jeremy
Rifkin took all the important ideas in his book ENTROPY from Georgescu
(and Rifkin gives credit as due).
I don't think it should take a "rocket scientist" (or an ag scientist)
to grasp the essential point. However, scientists don't seem very interested
in entropy. IMVHO, the whole field of Economics is in denial. Physical
scientists have the material basis for understanding entropy. But
politicians, economists and general public don't want to hear about it.
I hope this leads to some discussion of the concept of entropy. Has there
been any serious attempt to refute the entropy paradigm? I suspect not.
Anyone on SANET-MG willing to defend the standard paradigm? My guess is
no. Yet the standard paradigm still rules.
This mention of entropy poses a challenge and an opportunity. Either
refute the entropy paradigm, or deal with it seriously. Dealing with
it may mean different things to Sal Schettino, or Chuck Benbrook, or you,
or me.
I'd like to ramble on. Is this a quasi-religious matter? Why does it
seem to me that the word "entropy" is regarded as blasphemy? Am I
just hyper-sensitive? Please set me straight.
John Lozier
West Virginia University