ABSTRACT
I describe how the energetics of biological systems favor a different computational design based on intransitive logic. I use the “rock, scissors, paper” game as an example. I then develop this game into the concept of directed cycles that are a class of dissipative structures of the type first proposed by Ilya Prigogine. I provide many examples of directed cycles in nature and then discuss their biological implications and their impact on evolution. I draw on the work of Manfred Eigen and Susumu Ohno. The focus is on the direct cycles that regenerate themselves in the energetically most efficient way and power a wide range of biological processes depending on the path taken between an input and an output node.
The intransitive logic design is much more adaptable and thermodynamically efficient than our current computing devices. Unlike a Turing machine, the systems are not designed to halt. Instead, they are optimized to run indefinitely.
