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Social entropy is a macrosociological systems theory. Social Entropy is a measure of the natural decay within a social system. It can refer to the decomposition of social structure or of the disappearance of social distinctions. Much of the energy consumed by a social organization is spent to maintain its structure, counteracting social entropy, e.g., through legal institutions, education and even the promotion of television viewing. Anarchy is the maximum state of social entropy.
Social Entropy and Energy Inputs
Modern Western complex societies remain organized by large inputs of energy to mitigate the natural progression of increasing entropy (disorder), according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, a fundamental law of physics. This effectively states that Entropy (disorder) increases with time. As the system becomes more complex, through access to energy, it becomes more susceptible to changes that may occur if one were to remove this source of energy. Think of a teenager's bedroom. On any given day, it remains messy, unless work is performed on the system (bedroom). The same goes for societies at large. Take away the energy inputs (largely from fossil fuels) and organization (for instance, blueprints, databases, etc...) corrodes, thus society becomes less cohesive and trends toward anarchy. This is at the center of the Peak Oil debate. Once reliable, cheap supplies of energy are limited, social systems will begin to become more disorganized and disorderly. However, one can expect that regenerative energies will eventually take the place of fossil fuel, allowing societies to keep up energy spending to control entropy.
Entropy in the context of a Micro-level
The typical progression of time continues to see words appended with marginally altered meanings and / or contexts. Entropy is now used in a newly revised context that moves from an en-mass, social system to that of an individual's state of mind; To refer to another person's state of mind as "One of entropy" or, "Entropic" is to cite that individual as having conflicting thoughts specific a topic that cannot be worked through via general cognitive process. Or, to remain in a general state of confusion due to fatigue or failing to understand Executive Functions which are critical to make it through a normal day.
References
- Klaus Krippendorff's Dictionary of Cybernetics (University of Pennsylvania)
- Prediction Science
- Social Entropy Theory: An overview (ISSN 1094-429X) K.D.Bailey
- The Second Law of Thermodynamics to an Unusual Domain
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