The Earth functions as a typical open thermodynamic system sustained by continuous input of solar and geothermal energy with stable energy gradients. The material evolution, origin of life, and development of human civilization are not isolated and fragmented staged processes, but a continuous self-organizing evolutionary course governed by unified thermodynamic laws. Based on dissipative structure theory and the law of entropy increase, this paper sorts out the complete evolutionary chain from inorganic small molecules to organic polymers, from primitive dissipative bodies to unicellular life, and from multicellular organisms to human beings and human civilization. It demonstrates that the essence of global evolution is a spontaneous process of entropy reduction, ordering and hierarchical transition driven by energy gradients, aiming at achieving higher-efficiency energy dissipation. This study constructs a breakpoint-free theoretical framework of Earth’s global evolution governed by unified laws, breaking the cognitive barriers between inorganic evolution and life origin, biological evolution and civilization progression. This paper presents a fundamental paradigm reconstruction at the intersection of philosophy of science, foundational physics, and economics. It challenges and redefines core underlying concepts governing energy flow, material transformation, and systemic evolution, with the aim of establishing a unified theoretical framework applicable to both natural and socioeconomic systems.
Xijiang Hu (Wed,) studied this question.
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