Abstract
Energy flow is a major necessary component driving evolution of living system (along with information processes, organization, and entropy management). Energy flow is defined as the rate of energy use, after thermal heat losses are considered, i.e., free-energy power. Chaisson identified the energy flow density as a major determinant of complexity. Energy (such as food) is used to restore order among living systems (cell, animal, person, and civilization) overcoming the natural tendency to decay and diffuse. New energy mechanisms have been identified through the evolution of life, humans, and civilizations. The rate of energy innovation events is the same hyperbolic trend (with a singularity) that is seen in formation of new organizations. Here, we also investigate estimates of the energy flowing through evolving systems from early hydrothermal vents to the current global situation. It is found that the energy flow increases a bit faster than the population (or mass) in the system. For example, human bodies (such as early humans) use about 100 W of energy flow, whereas the global average is now roughly 3000 W per person with wide disparity (e.g., 10000 W/capita in the USA and 1000 W/capita in India).
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LePoire, D.J., Chandrankunnel, M. (2020). Energy Flow Trends in Big History. In: Korotayev, A., LePoire, D. (eds) The 21st Century Singularity and Global Futures. World-Systems Evolution and Global Futures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33730-8_9
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