The Revolution of Biophysical Energy Throughput

Several years ago in this space I had occasion to highlight the role of the marvelous machinery of the ATPase protein as the basis for both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. The revolutionary succession in the history of the biosphere to ever more efficient capture and utilization of energy is a quality of negative entropy.

This centers upon higher life forms' symbiotic adoption of the mitochondrion as the source for this function. Consider what sort of power inheres in the subsumption of this relatively more simple organelle to perform work for whole new classes of living entities. It is very much analogous to a breakthrough invention that humanity makes when it undergoes a revolution in the type of energy throughput characterizing its production. (Such as for instance the passage from burning wood to burning coal.)

The larger question here is how the motive force that carries on such problem solving exists in the ongoing development of universal lawfulness. This is in stark contrast to the childish assumption that the universe is "running down" like some enormous wind up clock. Thus it was in Raphael's brilliant cartoon of Aristotle and Plato. And as it was in Leibniz refutation of the outlook of rank empiricism of Newton and company.