Self-Organization, Entropy Production, and Physical Intelligence

Presenting thermodynamic systems from the modern thermodynamic point of view, an effort is made to discuss physical intelligence (PI) entirely in terms of thermodynamic forces, flows, stability. The following are noted: (a) A reasonable starting point for inquiry into PI is dissipative structures: ordered processes that require continuous production of entropy for their maintenance. The entropy production rate increases when irreversible processes form intricate networks capable of interacting with the environment in complex ways. High entropy production rates may be a necessary condition for PI. (b) Availability of a large number of dissipative structures, among which a system makes transitions when it interacts with its environment, may constitute an additional necessary condition for PI. Inter-state transitions enhance the rate of entropy production and they could ground a physical perspective on perception-action. (c) PI tied to dissipative structures would imply that it is non-algorithmic. (d) PI variants of “intentionality” and “survival” may be expressible, at least in some cases, in terms of thermodynamic stability, either of a process or a network of processes.