The Three Thermodynamic Laws of Agency
Comparing with the Classical Laws of Thermodynamics
Our exploration of agency through the lens of thermodynamics has produced three thermodynamic laws of agency: the Law of Control Work, the Law of Agency Decay, and the Law of Agency Limits. How do these laws relate to the classical laws of thermodynamics?
The Three Thermodynamic Laws of Agency
Law 1: Control Work
Agency Law: Exercising intentional control over outcomes requires physical work proportional to kybits exerted.
Analogous Classical Law: This aligns closely with the First Law of Thermodynamics, which states energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted or transferred. Both laws emphasize energy consumption and conservation in performing work.
Law 2: Agency Decay
Agency Law: In a closed system without external energy input, agency inevitably diminishes.
Analogous Classical Law: This parallels the Second Law of Thermodynamics, highlighting entropy increase and the gradual loss of usable energy over time in isolated systems. Both laws underscore the inevitable degradation of capacity without external energy replenishment.
Law 3: Agency Limits
Agency Law: Perfect frictionless control is physically impossible.
Analogous Classical Law: This resonates with the Third Law of Thermodynamics, which states absolute zero temperature (perfect order) is unattainable. Both laws establish fundamental constraints—absolute perfection or unlimited control is physically and thermodynamically impossible.
Comparative Summary
Contrasting Perspectives
Purpose vs. Generality: The agency laws specifically address intentional actions and decision-making capabilities, emphasizing control and intentionality. Classical thermodynamics broadly addresses universal physical systems without intentional agency.
Quantification (Kybits vs. Entropy): The agency framework uses kybits to quantify intentional control, while classical thermodynamics employs entropy to quantify disorder or unusable energy.
Philosophical vs. Physical Focus: The thermodynamic laws of agency explicitly bridge physical constraints with philosophical considerations of intentionality, whereas classical thermodynamics strictly describes physical processes.
Conclusion
The three thermodynamic laws of agency enrich classical thermodynamics by integrating intentionality and purposeful action, highlighting how fundamental physical constraints shape the capacity for meaningful choice and control. Understanding this relationship deepens our insight into both the nature of agency and the underlying physics that govern it.