ENTROPIC DRIFT
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1107 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
A natural tendency in complexes of associated systems to the compensation of unbalances. (after St. BEER, 1968, p.355).
For example, in an ecosystem, the unordinate growth of one species becomes quicky checked by some destructive countervailing factor. St. BEER gives the example of the potential fantastic propagation of aphids which, if unchecked, would produce 822.000.000 tons of aphids in one summer (New York Academy of Sciences). However, this “… does not happen… the variety generation that is the procreation power of the aphids is absorbed within the ecosystem by homeostasis”. Even so, and notwithstanding the non-existence of any “controller”, “… the process of massive retrenchment of an animal population (does not) misfire to the extent of annihilating the entire species” (Ibid).
In effect, entropic drift tends to maintain global homeostasis, i.e. is a factor of order.
Unfortunately, man seems to have the power to check this re-equilibration process, and at least until now, seems also to be unaware of the kind of potentially runaway situations this may trigger.