The Fourth Law of Thermodynamics: The Law of Complexity

A philosophical dive into confronting the heat death of the universe

Author's note: First, this is a long one, and is not an example of future articles. I wrote this a little while ago, have evolved on some point since then, and would love some feedback! Second: This is not a scientific article. Consider this more as a document of introspection and meditation on the nature of humanity, and what our role is in the universe. Much like the stories and ideas that helped us build any (somewhat) common sense of morality and social dogmas, even like a song that puts your brain into a new space of thought, I hope to help inspire new visions of a generation of forward-thinking human beings, dedicated to working together to save ourselves and flourish in the universe. 

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In accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, the energy generated in the big bang is slowly dissipating through the process of entropy, making its way toward a state of total non-complexity throughout the universe. The end result is almost unfathomably simple - evenly distributed atomic particles across almost infinite space, approaching a temperature of absolute zero. No heat, no light, no interaction – total heat death of the universe, forever.

Everything in the universe is apparently heading towards this inevitable state of total entropy, yet states of molecular complexity can clearly emerge briefly in conditions of gravity, heat, and elemental diversity. Such states are commonly seen throughout space in the forms of minerals, magma, mud, liquid, even complex formations of gas. Some of these structures, particularly in the mineral family, reach a far more advanced state of complexity than the other atomic constructs around them. In these we find examples of repetition and geometric intricacy that were born of gravity and heat, fusing and then freezing disordered atomic particles into multifarious structures. 

In a “n of 1” sample size, we have found, and are a living example of, evidence that builds and diverts from this paradigm. Approximately 3.5 billion years ago on Earth, and 10.3 billion years after the big bang, complex mineral compounds encountered an environment that allowed them to interact in new and abstract ways – liquid. In a warm (or even extremely hot, in the case of deep-sea vents) bath of water, complex mineral molecules were able to intermingle in a 3-dimensional space, colliding to form what we now know as basic amino acids. While very simple from our own perspective, at the time these molecules were likely some of the most complex structures on the planet. In the warm mud, molecules continued to compound, stacking and breaking apart, until a string of proteins became so complex that it began one of the rarest and most incredible actions in the universe: self-replication. This principle form of what would become ribonucleic acid began a process that created all life on earth. In this there is a strangely simple definition of life - it is a complex, self-replicating molecule that just didn’t stop replicating. Somewhere in that mud, a switch flipped – the paradigm changed, and through competition and evolution an exponential bloom of molecular intricacy covered the planet. 

Before we discuss the importance of human existence, lets first address an important and yet unanswered question: How common is the occurrence of planetary life in the Universe? If we knew the ‘number’ of planets that host recognizable life, within this number we would likely find far fewer occurrences that yield intelligent life like our own. According to a common interpretation of the Drake equation, there may be anywhere from 1000 and 100,000,000 intelligent civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy (Drake, 1961).  However, the age of advanced scientific technology that allows us to observe our corner of the universe has yielded zero examples of what may be another civilization, so for the purposes of this paper I will make the assumption that there are no observable incidents of intelligent life in our part of the galaxy. 

Making that assumption, at this moment you are in possession of a mass of atoms that is possibly one of the most complex structures in the galaxy – the human brain. Down to the intermingling molecular structures of neurons passing electrical signals back and forth, your brain is the ‘tip of the spear’ of this bloom of molecular complexity for one reason – it has the capacity of introspection and self-referential thought. While other existing ‘models’ of a brain exist within other species, none other than ours have been able to truly internalize an indisputable fact – our brains and bodies are vastly complex constructs of the same elemental molecules that floated in the mud 3.5 billion years ago. We are “self-conscious” constructs of atoms. But why is the human brain more ‘special’ than other brains? 

As our ancestors migrated across the great plains of Africa 200,000 years ago, there was a great leap forward in the size and functionality of the brain that allowed Homo Erectus to become one of the apex life-forms on the planet. This leap forward yielded, or was spurred by, the development of introspective sentience.  There are many theories about why our ancestors gained the ability for introspective and self-referential thought (including the possibility that entire ancient generations of sapiens were exposed to daily consumption of psychedelic substances like Psilocybin Cubensis… yes of course I had to mention that one). Whatever the process, this explosion of mental acuity has allowed us to recognize ourselves for what we are (and what we are not). We have the ability to contemplate vast concepts and to wonder at what becomes of our own consciousness when our bodies stop functioning. 

From a traditional perspective, the existence of our brains is just a natural step in the progression from the big bang to the heat death of the universe. We are nestled in the 3 laws of thermodynamics, a small accidental bloom of complexity (much like those minerals) before eventual heat and complexity dissipation. This path, however, may be a choice rather than an inevitability. For some reason we have gained consciousness - we are possibly the first atoms in the universe that are aware of their own existence – and we have an instinctive tendency and craving for light, life, and complexity. Much like our fear of death, we fear the pattern-less infinity of heat-death, the darkness of eternity, and are obsessed with living forever in one way or another. We have a drive to create complexity and legacy, and we may actually have the ability to expand that complexity into the solar system. Why would this remarkable molecular behavior arise in a universe that is otherwise driven by the thermodynamic law of entropy? Where does Occam’s razor fall in this paradigm? 

A quick warning: I’m going to write an idea here in the form of a definitive statement, but not to be treated as fact. Treat the next paragraph like you would a writing prompt, an idea that might exist only to push your mind into a new line of thought: 

There is a 4th law of thermodynamics: The existence of life is a naturally occurring counterbalance of atomic complexity in the face of entropy. Every stage of life on a planet has the capacity to yield even greater levels of molecular intricacy until it reaches across the cosmos with such unfathomable growth and advancement that complexity is able to exist and possibly thrive in the face of the heat death of the universe. Human beings may be an example of the pivotal stage in that movement that has the capability and the responsibility to push that complexity beyond the limitations of a single planet. 

It is the oldest, foundational principle of human consciousness. Life versus death, Light versus dark, good versus evil, yin and yang, and finally complexity versus entropy. With our ability to understand our existence and wonder at the meaning of life, human beings are the vanguards of this legacy. It is possible that we are just another bloom of complexity, like the age of dinosaurs before us, a wave of this inevitable force that exists in contradiction to the laws of entropy until we either destroy ourselves or are destroyed by our environment. Yes, life would carry on, but will it ever get as vastly complex as the human brain? Is this the best shot we have? Or will something vastly more complex rise long after we return to the mud? 

Let’s proceed with the assumption that nothing more complex that the human brain will ever exist after the age of humanity unless we build it or evolve into it. In this scenario, we would have an interest to collaborate as a species and lay an intergenerational foundation in order to propagate the 4th law beyond the gravity of our planet. According to the Kardashev scale, a Type one civilization (also called a planetary civilization) can cooperate to such an extent that it can use and store all of the energy available on its home planet. It is an example of a totally cohesive and collaborative society, dedicated to the expansion of the human race beyond the bounds of a single planetary structure. This is an essential stage to the expansion of molecular intricacy into our solar system, but our massively developed brains came with incredible baggage that continuously set us back from this goal. We perform detrimental and unspeakable acts, we verbally and physically attack each other, we and we ultimately cling to ancient genetic paradigms born out of fear and survival. We have totally lost sight of our place at the head of the greatest trend of complexity in the observable universe. In the face of this discord, the natural law of complexity has continued to manifest through us - Development of incredible tools like the internet have allowed the entire planet to operate like a brain or supercomputer, a giant electronic network connecting the electronic output of our brains that will be an essential tool for humanity to reach the Type-1 civilization status when it is ready. The question is how.  

200,000 years ago, our brains took a great leap forward, possibly similar to the leap that we will need to take in order to manifest the 4th law. How can we replicate (and possibly surpass) such a rapid growth? Let’s take Terrence McKenna’s theory about Psilocybin Cubensis that I mentioned earlier. McKenna theorized that our ancient ancestors developed modern consciousness and spoken language at the same time that nomadic groups were possibly eating psychedelic mushrooms as food on a daily basis, feeding them to our new-born and elderly alike. This is a non-addictive substance that is known for its ability to promote creativity, empathy, spiritual awakening, and connectivity to all living things. It is currently being used in clinical trials to treat depression, PTSD, and to help people in the last stage of their life overcome a fear of death, and it may have the ability to build new neural connections for those that consume it. Using the supercomputer analogy, the human race may need a factory reset in order to proceed towards our common goal towards universal complexity. Let’s take this example further: What would humanity look like if the consumption of molecules like the active ingredient in psilocybin became as natural as taking our vitamins in the morning, or drinking a coffee on the way to work? Doses can be controlled to such an extent that you feel less psychotropic effects than caffeine with proven benefits of neurogenesis. What would the human brain look like after 100 years of every person, young adult and elderly alike, consuming these materials on a daily basis? The earth is the original Eden of complexity, and it may have a final role to play in our development for our descendants to protect her, coexist in her garden, and finally head for the stars. 

The ideas in this paper are by no means suggestions – rather they are thought experiments designed to challenge your perceptions that guide your daily activity. If the proliferation of complexity in the face of (almost?) certain heat-death is the meaning of our existence, that we are the sentient manifestation of a 4th law of thermodynamics, then we may already have the tools and the intelligence, but not the common vision, to manifest that destiny. Just as we somehow found our first consciousness on Earth, we may need to employ natural guides, technology, a common vision, and intergenerational empathy to foster the planetary consciousness that will allow us to bring our unique legacy of complexity to the universe.