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On the decrease of entropy in a thermodynamic system by the intervention of intelligent beings
Author(s) -
Szilard Leo
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830090402
Subject(s) - entropy (arrow of time) , second law of thermodynamics , philosophy , cognitive systems , maxwell's demon , milestone , computer science , cognition , cognitive science , psychology , physics , thermodynamics , history , neuroscience , archaeology
In memory of Leo Szilard, who passed away on May 30,1964, we present an English translation of his classical paper ober die Enfropieuerminderung in einem thermodynamischen System bei Eingrifen intelligenter Wesen, which appeared in the Zeitschrift fur Physik, 1929,53,840‐856. The publication in this journal of this translation was approved by Dr. Szilard before he died, but he never saw the copy. At Mrs. Szilard's request, Dr. Carl Eckart revised the translation. This is one of the earliest, if not the earliest paper, in which the relations of physical entropy to information (in the sense of modem mathematical theory of communication) were rigorously demonstrated and in which Maxwell's famous demon was successfully exorcised: a milestone in the integration of physical and cognitive concepts.