# The Animate and the Inanimate  ## Metadata - Author: [[W. J. Sidis]] - Full Title: The Animate and the Inanimate - Category: #books ## Highlights - Furthermore, only such physical laws as are derived from the second law of thermodynamics are irreversible; so that this law constitutes the sole difference between the real and the reverse universe. Where, in the real universe, energy runs down to a common level, it follows that, in the reverse universe, energy tends to build itself up into different levels. ([Location 141](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=141)) - In other words, the second law of thermodynamics cannot have been true for an eternity past, though it may be true for on eternity in the future. ([Location 289](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=289)) - In other words, we come to the inevitable conclusion that the subsistence of the irreversible second law of thermodynamics in the same universe as the reversible laws concerning the motion of particles is a paradox, both from that point of view and from the fact that this second law, pushed to its logical conclusion, leads back to a mysterious creation which denies all physical laws whatever. ([Location 291](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=291)) - Thus we find a difficulty in accepting this solution of the paradox, namely, that our proposed solution requires that, even in our own section of space and time, there must be many instances of the reversal of the second law of thermodynamics; which seems contrary to observed facts. ([Location 349](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=349)) - So we thus get theoretically two outstanding characteristics of the reversal for which we are looking; namely, apparent teleology and the ability to use a fund of reserve energy. If we can find anything in our section of space and time which has these two properties, then in all probability we have found the reversal for which we are looking. ([Location 387](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=387)) - In short, we may say that, in general, events in the reverse universe appear as though they were living phenomena; and the general events of the reverse universe may be taken as the type of negative phenomena, of the reversal of the second law of thermodynamics. ([Location 406](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=406)) - The logical conclusion from these would be: that inanimate phenomena are positive tendencies, and follow the second law of thermodynamics, while animate phenomena, on the contrary, are negative tendencies and tend to reverse that law. Thus we have found where our part of the universe contains reversals, and come to a solution of our paradox. ([Location 423](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=423)) - On the contrary, physicists, confining their observation entirely to inanimate matter, have reached the conclusion that there is a further physical law, the so-called second law of thermodynamics, which is suspended by living phenomena. There is according to our theory, this essential difference between living and non-living phenomena; and this difference would supply the basis for the idea of "vital force." Thus the two theories of life can be reconciled. ([Location 446](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=446)) - Life is a reversal of the second law of thermodynamics. ([Location 532](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=532)) - Life consists of bodies with a mechanical efficiency of over 100%. ([Location 535](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=535)) - It thus follows that in such hot bodies as stars and nebulae, there is an opposite process going on, which we may call the integration of atoms, the building up of larger atoms out of smaller ones. ([Location 575](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=575)) - In the first part of our "positive" epoch atoms are being built up, into more and more complicated forms; in the latter part of our "positive" epoch they are dissociated once more; during the beginning of the "negative" epoch the atoms are re-integrated, until sufficiently large differences of heat-level are built up to reverse the process, and the atoms become once more dissociated. Why this process should take place in just this way I cannot attempt to explain; but it may easily be that both dissociation and integration of atoms is constantly taking place, and the excess of one over the other would differ under different circumstances. ([Location 581](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=581)) - All life comes from some living cause. ([Location 645](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=645)) - the second law of thermodynamics is not a physical but a mental law. ([Location 1360](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=1360)) - Hence, in the last analysis, the second law of thermodynamics is to be interpreted as a mental law, as the law determining the direction in which a given mind will conceive of time as flowing. ([Location 1421](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=1421)) - Furthermore, if we come to the conclusion that the second law of thermodynamics is fundamentally based on a conceptual illusion, it would be just as logical to admit the same possibility for the other physical laws, in which case the theory of the reversibility of the universe would almost carry with it its own refutation, since the reversible physical laws are the foundation of that theory. If observed facts can be explained in one case as a conceptual illusion, why not in another case? ([Location 1624](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00GF4T5CE&location=1624))