Make the Call

It's difficult to integrate scientific principles into daily perception of reality. Recently I've been reading  'The Physics of Superheroes' by James Kakalios, a primer on physics for those that never took physics or the nerdy, curious types who love superheroes. In a chapter discussing the Three Laws of Thermodynamics the term 'entropy' was brought to light; "Entropy is the term used to describe the number of different ways a given system can arrange itself." A new deck of cards packaged numerically and by suit has low entropy as compared to a thoroughly shuffled pack, he exampled. It's the same application of terminology for air molecules in a room as playing cards in a deck. It only requires a system and inherent probability.

This is important in comprehending how to derive the most energy out of a system. When designing a system, controlling probability is key. Specifically, it's applicable to life-choices and why one has to make them. In my youth I asked my father why I had to be one particular career. I imagined careers as knowing only a few select things and no child wants to hear about limits. Overspecialization reduces adaptability just like in prize breeding and I wanted to be supremely adaptable. But the energy required for a single person to know all things and be able to employ them efficiently is unattainable. Sorry, Bats. 

It's not defeatist, it's physics. It's both frightening and comforting to know that this isn't an applied metaphor either. In judging the success of your endeavors, the broader the definitions of success the greater your likelihood of achieving them but the less pay off they will have. I hope that this law will replace the truism about 'things that come easily' but in the system of our population, I feel the entropy is a little too high.