Thermodynamics and Ethics The document discusses the implications of thermodynamics, specifically the laws of thermodynamics, for ethics and sustainability. It makes the following key points: 1) The first law states that energy is conserved in processes, while the second law states that the quality or usefulness of energy decreases in processes, becoming unavailable for future use. All natural processes involve a dissipation of energy quality and matter. 2) A sustainable society aims to minimize wasteful practices and consumption in line with natural production rates, using renewable resources and reducing poverty and opulence. Products should be designed to last and technologies evaluated based on net energy analysis. 3) The second law has broad philosophical implications, indicating

1. Thermodynamics and
Ethics

2. What is thermodynamics ?
Science of transformation of energy and
its interaction with matter
Since most phenomena are accompanied
by energy transformations and interaction
with matter, thermodynamics should
encompass all sciences and engineering
……….In a broad sense all that we human
beings do in life also involves energy
transfer

3. The Laws of Thermodynamics
In all natural processes :
The First Law : Energy is Conserved
The Second Law : Quality of Energy is
not conserved => Some amount of
energy becomes unavailable for future
use
Quality of Energy : Low Grade and High Grade Energies

4. Grades of Energy……....I
Ordered Energy :
fully convertible ,
Invariant in
Quality
<high grade>

5. Grades of Energy……….II
Disordered Energy : Thermal Energy=>Not fully
convertible ; Quality not invariant, dependent on
Environmental parameters <low grade>
Quality Standard : EXERGY( ~availability): max
useful work obtainable from a given form of
energy
The Second Law : All natural processes involve
exergy destruction
N.Georgescu Roegen : Matter is also continually being dissipated

6. Roegen’s Extension of the 2nd
Law of Thermodynamics
Like energy matter is also not destroyed , but is
continually dissipated: loose metal (matter)
molecules are no longer in a concentrated form ,
they get dispersed in the soil and can’t perform
useful work like the original chunk of metal
(matter).
You can never recycle 100 % => recycling m/c
would loose matter and gobble energy.
“Dissipation” is a more serious problem with
matter-- Earth receives useful energy from Sun ,
but no useful matter

7. Imperatives of The “Second”
Law
The Extended Second Law : All natural
processes involve exergy/material
dissipation
What governs the rate of dissipation ?
LIFE STYLE
Consumer Society or a Conserver Society

8. The Concept of Progress
What is progress ?….. More or less consumption ?
Economist belief : M/C + Labour create value is not
tenable : They can only transfer the existing
available energy/matter supply from a usable state
to unusable state providing some utility along the
way.
Need for redefinition of the concept of productivity
: Exergy/matter dissipated per unit output rather
than production per unit time
“ haste makes waste”

9. Sustainable Development
Reduce wasteful practices => Elect. Geysers ,
Frozen foods, Mechanized agriculture, Throw
away culture
No industrial activity can be free from thermal
pollution…...finitude of accessible space limits the
extent of waste that the planet can handle.
⌫ Waste disposal too costs energy
Analyze new technologies for sustainability on
the basis of Net Energy Analysis
available vs accessible energy (matter)
deep mining; extra terrestrial energy sources

10. Sustainable Development
Limits to Growth : Finite stock of minerals/energy and
finite flow of solar energy can not sustain limitless
growth !….…shift to sustainable consumption
NO Poverty NO Opulence Society
Energy-material consumption in consonance with
natural production rate of the ecosystem=> Increase
Use of Renewable resources
☺ The new Industrialization of 21st Century should be
based on bio-mass & solar energy

11. Thermodynamics of Food Chain
Whenever a living being consumes food
80-90% is wasted as heat to the
environment
Yearly food requirement
1
1
1
1
Man
needs 300
Trout
needs
300
Frog
needs
300
Grass hopper needs
Trout
Frogs
Grasshoppers
40 gm grass
To support 1 Man on trout earth loses 1000 Tons of grass

12. Implications of Internalising
The Second Law
Minimizing Consumption …….How?
Re-look at the need satisfied by the
product & find a better alternative…e.g.
AUTOMOBILE
Pragmatist approach : How to redesign it
using 2nd Law to get more work ?
Deeper perspective: What purpose does it
serve? Can it be served by some alternative
means? Does it enhance, well being, culture,
health ?

13. Implications of Internalising
The Second Law
Product Design : Modern Throw away
culture vs Old “Conserver” culture =>
Design products to be repairable and
durable.
Long term vision of Society : Radical deurbanization , most people living in villages
on organic farming and relying on bio-mass
for material and energy needs.

14. Philosophic Implications of
Second Law
Give importance to Quality not merely to quantity
food, friends, Time, Life
Exergy of a person =>
Physical + Intellectual
need to use both for “full” & satisfying life
happiness~ 1- exergy dissipated/ exergy available
Intellectual exergy =>
f (alertness)
alertness is high after good rest /meditation and falls as
person gets tired
Matching available alertness to required alertness
ensures optimal performance

15. Second Law and Time-table Planning
Mental
alertness
or
exergy
Variation of mental
Alertness with time
Wasted exergy
Variation of mental
Alertness with time
Mental
alertness
or
exergy
Wasted exergy
Alertness
required for
Alertness
lectures
required for
“practicals”
0
2
Alertness
required for
“practicals”
4
0
Time (h)
(a) Lectures first
Alertness
required for
lectures
2
4
Time (h)
(b) “Practicals” first

16. Second Law &
Performance appraisal
Performance appraisal
Quantity and Quality
Quality & Job profile
Evaluating People with dissimilar
backgrounds :
a) Achievements relative to the input (~Ist law
approach)
b) Achievements relative to the best possible
under the circumstances (~ 2nd Law approach)

17. Concluding Remarks
Many ethical insights emerge from
Thermodynamics : Life style, Reducing
waste , the design of various products etc.
It provides a scientific basis of
sustainable development and choice of
technologies.
The Second Law has profound
philosophic implications--- provides a
comprehensive definition of “quality”

18. End of Lecture