Entropy Again

[Hartwin Alfred Gebhardt]

David P sez:

>         The scientific aspect of it is at least part of the point.
> TRP claims niot to understand entropy as a concept in
> the Slow Learner Introudction but goes on to use informational
> and thermodynamic entropy in "Entropy" and claim in COL49
> that the two fields are entirely unconnected except by metaphor.

The Slow Learner Intro is written with the benefit of hindsight. TRP 
acknowledges that he uses entropy rather sloppily in "Entropy". As to 
not understanding entropy, I'd take that with a pinch of salt, 
especially since he is aware of the all-important temperature angle;
- important if entropy becomes a metaphor of and for the _human_ world, 
that is.
 
> Whether he knows his physics or not, Pynchon employs
> all aspects of entropy as a metaphor.  That doesn't
> mean he is trying to privilege any of them as
> a universal truth.

One must not forget that the scientific (thermodynamic) concept of 
entropy is already a metaphor anyway, albeit a clearly defined one. 
This suggests to me that if we use it for our own purposes, we should 
do so in an equally strictly defined way. But maybe I'm just getting 
old....

hg
hag at iafrica.com