Single Idea 5700

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / d. Entropy]

Full Idea

Anything can be more speedily disintegrated than put together again.

Gist of Idea

It is quicker to break things up than to assemble them

Source

Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], I.558)

Book Reference

Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.43


A Reaction

Clearly the concept of entropy was around long before anyone tried to give a systematic or mathematical account of it.