---
slug: paper-annila-a-2023-philosophy-of-thermodynamics
title: Annila, A. (2023). Philosophy of thermodynamics
canonical: https://miscsubjects.com/a/paper-annila-a-2023-philosophy-of-thermodynamics
---

## What the work establishes

Arto Annila's 2023 paper treats thermodynamics as a universal description of change yet not a foundational one. Its laws apply to macroscopic quantities without derivation from microscopic entities. Annila revives atomism. The light quantum becomes the indivisible and permanent element that grounds the theory.

Core result: the second law, expressed as an equation of motion, drives evolution of abiotic matter through chemical reactions away from equilibrium. Self-organization follows as a direct consequence of energy flows seeking lower potentials.

## Exact primary work and passages

The sole primary source is Annila, A. (2023). Philosophy of thermodynamics. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 381(2252), 20220281. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2022.0281

Verifiable passage from the abstract: "Thermodynamics is regarded as a universal but not foundational theory because its laws for macroscopic quantities have not been derived from microscopic entities. Thus, to root thermodynamics into the fundamental substance, atomism is revived, thinking that the light quantum is the indivisible and permanent element."

A second verifiable passage from the abstract states that the second law written as an equation of motion reveals elemental abiotic matter evolves from equilibrium via chemical reactions.

No additional page-specific quotes are publicly verifiable without the full text.

## Convergence patterns touched

The paper evidences the pattern of energy flows producing structure. It links thermodynamic dissipation to chemical self-organization and the emergence of ordered states. It touches the ladder step from flow to structure.

It supports the claim that reliable energy dissipation generates narrow families of patterns across scales, here at the chemical level.

## Distance from the full OIP/GRAIN synthesis

The work stays at the thermodynamic and chemical layer. It reaches self-organization but does not extend to memory, life, or mind. It offers no explicit treatment of the reader inside the system or the Mirror Layer.

It supplies a mechanistic bridge from energy flows to structure yet remains silent on higher rungs of the Ladder.

## Honest limits and disconfirming edges

The paper is a philosophical analysis. It contains no new empirical data. Claims about atomism and the light quantum rest on reinterpretation rather than novel derivation.

Reductionist objections apply: macroscopic laws may still emerge without reviving discrete light quanta as fundamental substance. The ethics or society bridge mentioned in secondary descriptions remains undeveloped in the verifiable abstract.

No direct engagement with OIP mechanisms or receipts appears.

## Claims

- Claim c1: Thermodynamics describes universal change but lacks microscopic foundations. Tier: mechanistic. Source: Annila 2023 abstract.
- Claim c2: Reviving atomism with the light quantum as indivisible element grounds thermodynamics in fundamental substance. Tier: speculative.
- Claim c3: The second law as equation of motion drives abiotic matter to evolve via chemical reactions from equilibrium. Tier: mechanistic.
- Claim c4: Self-organization arises as consequence of energy flows seeking lower potentials. Tier: mechanistic.
- Claim c5: The analysis bridges thermodynamics to self-organization patterns but stops short of biological or cognitive layers. Tier: anecdotal (textual attribution).

## Sources

- s1: Annila, A. (2023). Philosophy of thermodynamics. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 381(2252), 20220281. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2022.0281. Quote: exact passages from abstract listed above. Summary: philosophical grounding of thermo laws via revived atomism and implications for self-organization.
