Philosophy of Entropy: Eastern and Western Approaches

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Published: Jan 29, 2026
Keywords:
Entropy Philosophy of Entropy Western Philosophy Eastern Philosophy Philosophy of Information Irreversibility Impermanence Ethics
Fivos Papadimitriou
Department of Archival, Library and Information Studies, University of West Attica
Abstract

This essay examines how the scientific concept of entropy has been interpreted and developed within diverse philosophical traditions, revealing its significance as a bridge between physical description and existential meaning. Western philosophical perspectives on entropy range from traditional interpretations emphasizing decay and disorder to Nietzschean affirmations of flux and becoming, information ethics, phenomenological analyses, postmodern engagements with fragmentation. Eastern traditions, particularly Buddhism, and Hinduism, have long emphasized concepts that align with entropic principles, including impermanence, cyclical time, and liberation from temporal conditioning, often framing entropy as a natural cosmic process rather than a fundamental problem, emphasizing acceptance and transcendence. This essay synthesizes these diverse approaches to reveal common themes: the recognition of universal impermanence, the moral significance of finite existence, and the need for creative responses to temporal constraints. Contemporary developments in environmental ethics, bioethics, social theory, and care ethics demonstrate the continuing relevance of entropy in addressing urgent questions about climate change, aging, social fragmentation, and human vulnerability. The philosophical exploration of entropy yields significant ethical implications, including recognition of shared vulnerability that grounds compassion, the moral weight given to irreversible choices, and the responsibility to create and maintain valuable forms of organization against decay. Rather than negating meaning, entropy's universality can deepen appreciation for the preciousness of time and motivate authentic engagement with finite existence. The analysis concludes that entropy serves not merely as a physical description but as a fundamental framework for understanding human temporal existence and moral responsibility within an evolving cosmos.

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