POWER PRINCIPLE (Maximum)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2597 ▶ |
| Object type | Human sciences, Methodology or model |
- “Natural systems tend to operate at that efficiency which produces a maximum power output. This efficiency is always less than the maximum efficiency” (H.T. ODUM and R.C. PINKERTON, 1955, p.331-343).
J. MILLER comments: “(Following ODUM) a major design principle of natural systems is feedback from storage to energy inflow pathways. This stimulates energic inflow and functions as reward. In this way, processes that are doing useful work are reinforced. Such feedback designs are autocatalytic. They maximize power, consequently generating more entropy. Autocatalytic processes depend upon sufficient concentration of potential energy - energy available for doing work. If the energy source is weak, the system minimizes energy flow and entropy generation. The maximum power principle suggest that natural selection operates to select systems designs that maximize power. Systems compete for available energy.
- “Systems of this sort develop hierarchies with successive transformations of energy in which energy increases in ”quality“ as units increase in size” (1986, p.78).
ODUM discovered the principle studying ecosystems. It fits, however, nicely human systems throughout the whole technological evolution of mankind. The principle looks like a good explanation for the general phenomenon of evolutive acceleration (F. MEYER, 1954).