We are accustomed to looking at matter, life and evolution from different viewpoints. In this article, we present a simple but unified theoretical framework inspired by classical mechanics and thermodynamics. Our framework generalizes Newton's third law of matter to encompass life and evolution. The generalized action–reaction relationship includes scale and temporal parameters. This generalization helps explain why life is a system out of equilibrium. Life can go beyond the action–reaction symmetry law of matter. We define life as an open system that is self-aware of the time trajectory of energy state and environment. The theoretical framework we propose for studying life in terms of power reduces to the science of matter as a limiting case.

This article is part of the theme issue 'Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)'.

Footnotes

One contribution of 13 to a theme issue ‘Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)’.

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This Issue

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences cover image

07 August 2023

Volume 381Issue 2252

Theme issue ‘Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)’ compiled and edited by Ram Poudel, Emmanuel Haven, Umit Gunes, Georgi Georgiev and Hongkun Zhang

Article Information

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2022.0291
PubMed:37334449
Published by:Royal Society
Print ISSN:1364-503X
Online ISSN:1471-2962

History:

Manuscript received28/01/2023
Manuscript accepted06/04/2023
Published online19/06/2023
Published in print07/08/2023

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