Entropy

Abstract

This article explains the meaning of the notion of entropy and its implications for the understanding of the Anthropocene epoch. Although the notion of entropy belongs to the thermodynamic field, it also has some consequences in the field of biology and human sciences: living organisms can be defined by their anti-entropic tendencies towards organization and evolution, whereas human beings displace the play between entropy and anti-entropy through the production of artificial organs, which can become very anthropic if they are not adopted through the practice of collective knowledge. According to Bernard Stiegler, in the current epoch, the “disajustment” between technical evolution and social evolution provokes an increase of entropy and anthropy, which has to be countered thanks to the valorization of anti-anthropic practices of different knowledge, at the source of cultural and social evolution and diversity.