Based on the zeroth law and the first law of thermodynamics as underlying axioms, this paper constructs an original theoretical framework of social thermodynamics, and systematically maps classical thermodynamic laws to human economic dissipative systems. It defines core exclusive variables such as upper limit of social energy level, intensity of technological behavior, and consciousness entropy, and establishes quantitative expressions suitable for social and economic systems. From both physical origin and social-economic dimensions, it explains the formation mechanism of steady state, logic of energy distribution, and evolution law of order and disorder in the system. The study points out that the level of human social civilization is jointly determined by the long-term cumulative effect of technological work capacity and consciousness entropy resistance. The total energy of an economic system is naturally divided into two forms: effective work for entropy reduction and stability maintenance, and productive work. Productive work has vector directionality: positive work boosts the leap of civilization energy level, while reverse work intensifies internal friction and systemic instability and collapse. This study breaks away from the subjective hypothesis paradigm of traditional economics, takes physical thermodynamics as the underlying foundation, and provides a brand-new axiomatic theoretical support for interpreting social steady-state evolution, institutional change, economic rise and fall, and civilization level leap.
Xijiang Hu (2026) studied this question.