Mukundan's Entropic Destiny: A Thought Experiment for Philosophical Inquiry into Temporal Directionality and Cosmic Final States

This paper examines a thought experiment, Mukundan's Entropic Destiny, which contrasts the thermodynamic arrow of time in our universe (Ou) with hypothetical universes featuring reversed or non-monotonic entropy trajectories. We formally define universe M̌β1, where entropy decreases toward a state of minimum entropy (a "heat crystal"), and universe M̌β2, where entropy first increases then decreases. By analyzing the philosophical implications of these scenarios—particularly concerning destiny, teleology, and the perception of temporal flow—we argue that the forward arrow of time may be an emergent illusion arising from a fundamental sequential progression of states toward an entropic destiny set by a universe's physical laws. The analysis suggests that concepts of purpose, agency, and temporal experience are contingent upon the direction of the thermodynamic gradient, rather than reflecting an intrinsic directionality of time itself.