Science, Strategy and War The Strategic Theory of ... - Boekje Pienter

although not exact1y -- since the uncertainty va1ues do not hide or mask observedphenomena behavior nor indicate significant erratic behavior.Keeping in mind that the Heisenberg Principle implicitly depends upon theindeterminate presence and influence of an observer 23 , we can now see -- as revealed by thetwo examples just cited -- that the magnitude of the uncertainty values represent the degreeof intrusion by the observer upon the observed. When intrusion is total (that is, when theintended distinction between observer and observed essentially disappears 24 ) the uncertaintyvalues indicate erratic behavior. When intrusion is low the uncertainty va1ues do not hide ormask observed phenomena behavior, nor indicate significant erratic behavior. In otherwords, the uncertainty values not only represent the degree of intrusion by the observerupon the observed but also the degree of confusion and disorder perceived by that observer.Entropy and the Second Law of ThermodynamicsConfusion and disorder are also related to the notion of Entropy and the Second Law ofThermodynamics 25 . Entropy is a concept that represents the potential for doing work, thecapacity for taking action or the degree of confusion and disorder associated with anyphysical or information activity. High entropy implies a low potential for doing work, a lowcapacity for taking action or a high degree of confusion and disorder. Low entropy impliesjust the opposite. Viewed in this context, the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that allobserved natural processes generate entropy 26 . From this law it follows that entropy mustincrease in any closed system -- or, for that matter, in any system that cannot communicatein an ordered fashion with other systems or environments external to itself 27 . Accordingly,whenever we attempt to do work or take action inside such a system -- a concept and itsmatch-up with reality -- we should anticipate an increase in entropy hence an increase inconfusion and disorder. Naturally, this means we cannot determine the character or nature(consistency) of such a system within itself, since the system is moving irreversibly toward ahigher, yet unknown, state of confusion and disorder.Destruction and CreationWhat an interesting outcome! 28 According to Gödel we cannot -- in general -- determine theconsistency, hence the character or nature, of an abstract system within itself. According toHeisenberg and the Second Law of Thermodynamics any attempt to do so in the real worldwill expose uncertainty and generate disorder. Taken together, these three notions supportthe idea that any inward-oriented and continued effort to improve the match-up of conceptwith observed reality will only increase the degree of mismatch. Naturally, in thisenvironment, uncertainty and disorder will increase as previously indicated by theHeisenberg Indeterminacy Principle and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, respectively.Put another way, we can expect unexplained and disturbing ambiguities, uncertainties,anomalies, or apparent inconsistencies to emerge more and more often. Furthermore, unless23 Heisenberg (1962).24 Brown.25 For this introduction into thermodyamics Boyd consulted Georgescu-Roegen and source 20: DavidLayzer, ‘The Arrow of Time’, and article in Scientific American of December 1975.26 Layzer is referred to as the source.27 Ibid.28 As before, these are Boyd’s own words.182