ABSTRACT

The role of the “process of death” in evolution of the universe and the creation of complexity is discussed. Where concept of “death” includes the meaning of a thermodynamic-like death of an organized entity. This process of death is viewed in terms of major levels of complexity within the context of massive dissipative structures. We hypothesize that within a level of major complexity there are three regimes : chaotic, ordered, and the edge-of-chaos. The role of “death” is a form of information feedback from order to chaos via an edge-of-chaos between levels of major complexity. Death can release stored information that is key to the further evolution of complexity of a surrounding dissipative structure. It is further hypothesized that in the increasing complexity of our existence, there are successive levels of selection processes, and in understanding these processes can help predict the structure of our future.