The Driving Force of Natural Selection: Maximizing Entropy Production Rates

Although evolutionary theory has yet to fully explain why natural selection occurs, it is crucial to recognize that this phenomenon extends beyond biological systems and is evident in physical systems as well. Specifically, in compliance with the second law of thermodynamics, isolated and closed non-equilibrium systems tend to progress toward states in which entropy increases. When there are multiple pathways for entropy production, such systems will select combinations of pathways that maximize the rate of entropy production from among the available paths. This is known as the fourth law of thermodynamics. Life processes represent one way to achieve increased entropy in nature. Genetic mutations produce organisms with differing rates of entropy production, and when these organisms coexist, they form combinations of pathways with varying rates of entropy production. Nature selects among these possible combinations, selecting those that achieve the fastest rates of entropy production, thereby driving the evolution of life. The process of life’s evolution essentially involves exploring and selecting pathways that achieve fast entropy production across different free energy reservoirs through random mutation. As genetic mutations continue and nature persistently selects for faster entropy production rate, information accumulates, further accelerating the rate of entropy production. This physical selection for the pathways that minimize potential or maximize entropy at the fastest possible rate given the constraints, serves as a fundamental driver of the origin and evolution of life.