Q&A: Entropic Fluctuations
Entropic Fluctuations
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Isn’t it reasonable that in an infinite universe, as we experience it today, islands of complexity could arise while the rest of space is in total chaos? Can it be argued that this is how the Earth also came into being—relatively stable local disorder within the chaotic universe as a whole?
Isn’t it possible that the universe came into being by chance, and that local complexity, such as life on Earth, is simply the result of entropic or quantum fluctuations—“islands of order” within a universe most of which is chaotic?
Answer
Theoretically, anything is possible, but in my view the probability of that is very small. Moreover, this whole discussion is conducted on the assumption that the laws of nature allow life. Then somewhere they could come into being. But if the laws of nature were different, life could not exist, and then it would not happen anywhere. The relevant question regarding the existence of God is who is responsible for the laws of nature being such as they are. The laws of nature are the same throughout the universe, so with respect to them there is no room to explain things by way of islands of low entropy.
Note: entropy and complexity are not the same thing; it’s recommended to watch the above video.