UNEXPECTEDNESS as a measure of negentropy
Charles François (2004). UNEXPECTEDNESS as a measure of negentropy, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 3684.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3684 ▶ |
| Object type | Epistemology, ontology or semantics, Methodology or model |
Mac KAY defines unexpectedness as“the average logarithm of the improbability of a message: Template:Ency symim” (1969, p.57).
As unexpectedness is a measure of improbability, it is the contrary of high probability, which is closely related to nearly homogeneized systems after a considerable and not compensated production of entropy.
It may thus be considered as a measure of negentropy in systems wherein the production of entropy has been coupled with structuring dissipation to lead them towards the emergence of higher complexity, i.e., heterogeneity.