A God in his own right

A God in his own right

Stuart Kauffman is a theoretical biologist at the University of Calgary. His main contribution to science is as follows: If you put molecules necessary for life together, like oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, in the right concentrations, add some electricity, organisms will eventually form. This phenomenon, called autocatalysis, is a smaller concept in the overarching category called emergence. Emergence, which Kauffman argues should be the fourth law of thermodynamics, is the spontaneous shift to a complex system coming due to simple interactions.

But you may be wondering how emergence and autocatalysis relate to the origin of life? As an example, picture molecule A as being a catalyst for the production of molecule B. However, molecule B is a catalyst for the production reaction of molecule A. Such systems, which have been observed, are called autocatalytic – good name, gives you real information. Other emergent systems include capitalism, hurricanes, and termite mounds. Kauffman argues that the origin of life was an autocatalytic system, arising primarily at random from the right conditions on earth. Such an interpretation of the origin of life logically solves the most perplexing question of how it all started. Emergence of complex systems is a very hot, at times controversial, topic since it seems to go against conventional of thought, particularly the second law of thermodynamics.

Another point of discomfort is the idea that if emergence and autocatalysis is in fact the origin and governing force behind life, there is no way to know what the next step is. Kauffman agrees that a pitfall of using subscribing to such a complex system is that there is no way to model it. There are an infinite number of combinations and possibilities, all dynamically creating infinitely different next steps. However Kauffman is not a cynic. He holds close the idea that life has a tendency to just emerge. While life may not be sacred in the sense that it has a direct course, it may be the product of boundless set of reactions, teaming with possibilities. To Kauffman, the unique path that has led to human beings is truly sacred since it was so improbable. He sees the light in the infinite, more so than in the discrete.