---
slug: oip-node-c01-gradient-dissipation-far-from-equilibrium-order
title: Node C01: Gradient Dissipation / Far-From-Equilibrium Order
canonical: https://miscsubjects.com/a/oip-node-c01-gradient-dissipation-far-from-equilibrium-order
---

# Node C01: Gradient Dissipation / Far-From-Equilibrium Order

C01 — Gradient Dissipation / Far-From-Equilibrium Order
{
  "id": "C01",
  "claim": "Sustained order exists only by consuming a gradient; complex structure is dissipative structure.",
  "domain": ["physics", "chemistry", "biology", "ecology", "economics"],
  "pattern": ["gradient_consumption", "dissipative_order", "negative_entropy"],
  "mechanism": "Non-equilibrium thermodynamics: a system open to energy/matter flow can maintain spatiotemporal order by exporting entropy to its surroundings. The steady state is a balance between internal entropy production and external entropy export.",
  "scale": "molecular → biosphere",
  "claim_tier": "T1",
  "sources": [
    "Prigogine, I. (1977). Dissipative Structures. Nobel Lecture in Chemistry.",
    "Schroedinger, E. (1944). What Is Life? Chapter 6: 'Order, Order and Negative Entropy'.",
    "Schneider, E.D. & Kay, J.J. (1994). 'Life as a Manifestation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics.' Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 19(6-8), 25-48.",
    "England, J.L. (2013). 'Statistical Physics of Self-Replication.' J. Chem. Phys., 139, 121923."
  ],
  "dual": "Thermodynamic equilibrium (heat death) — the state of maximum entropy with no gradients to consume.",
  "falsifier": "Observation of a durable complex structure maintaining itself with zero energy/matter throughput and no entropy export to surroundings.",
  "rival_frame": "Local order is merely a transient, statistically expected fluctuation in a universe trending toward equilibrium. No directional bias exists; apparent organization is the tail of a random distribution.",
  "independence_check": "HIGH. Prigogine (thermodynamics, Brussels school) arrived from chemical kinetics. Schroedinger (quantum biology, Dublin) arrived from thinking about heredity molecules. England (statistical mechanics, MIT) arrived from non-equilibrium fluctuation theorems. Three fields, three continents, three decades, no borrowing chain.",
  "pattern_type": "energetic",
  "maps_to_axiom": ["A2", "A4"]
}

---

## Corpus map
- Same node, other planes: [Encyclopedia C01](/a/convergence-encyclopedia-c01) · [Inventory invariant](/a/oip-invariant-1-31-gradient-dissipation-far-from-equilibrium-order)
- Edges touching C01: [convergence edge 1](/a/oip-convergence-edge-1)
- Catalogue hub: [Public Article](/a/oip-convergence-public-article) · [Schema](/a/oip-convergence-schema)
