|
In this original, thought provoking book, Robert Ayres applies
the fundamental concepts of phylogenic evolution to an examination of the development
of socioeconomic systems and technological progress. Beginning
with the principles of thermodynamics, and then employing the concepts of information
gathering and self-organization, Ayres proposes an evolutionary framework that
unifies a wide range of scholarly fields and disciplines. His underlying premise
is that all evolutionary phenomena are examples of deterministic chaos and can
be characterized by increasing diversity, complexity, and stability. On this foundation
he constructs a fascinating view of the evolution of the universe, the earth and
its chemistry and geology, living organisms, social and economic systems, and
processes for manufacturing, production and labor. Central
to the book is the idea of evolution as an accumulation of "distinguishability"
information, or D-information. A type of generalization of knowledge, D-information
establishes a conceptual link between the evolutionary process in cosmology and
evolutionary processes in stellar, planetary, chemical, biological, and social
systems. Robert Ayres shows how the evolutionary selection
processes inherent in physical, chemical, biological, and social systems are essentially
increases in "useful" information (information useful to survival) and
illustrative of selection as it is defined in information theory. While the specific
mechanisms of evolutionary change may differ among systems, he maintains that
evolutionary selection is, at its most basic level, an information accumulation
process. INFORMATION, ENTROPY, AND PROGRESS --
A New Evolutionary Paradigm offers readers a dynamic global perspective that
brilliantly highlights the unity of evolutionary progress in what are usually
seen as a collection of disparate subspecialties. Moreover, its unique ideas about
the possible future evolutionary direction of socioeconomic systems make an important
contribution to the current debate on how to facilitate long-term economic growth
without undue harm to the physical environment. This
innovative look at the interface of scientific evolution, economic theory, and
information processing systems will challenge a broad range of readers in science
and economics, especially those interested in thermodynamics, statistical mechanics,
cybernetics, information theory, resource use, and evolutionary economic behavior
and organization. Robert U. Ayres is Sandoz Professor
of Environment and Management, and Professor of Economics at INSEAD, the international
school of management in Fontainebleau, France. From 1979 to 1992 he was Professor
of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. From 1961-1966
Dr. Ayres was a staff member at the Hudson Institute, where he worked on environmental
problems. In 1968 he co-founded a research/consulting firm to conduct studies
on energy, environment, and economic issues for the U.S. government. |
