--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [N]early every creationist debater will…" description: "\"“[N]early every creationist debater will mention the second law of thermodynamics and argue that complex systems like the earth and life cannot evolve,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/donald-r-prothero-47249_complex-systems_n-early-every-creationist-debater-will-m_881012.jpg" --- # \[N\]early every creationist debater will mention the second… ![“[N]early every creationist debater will mention the second law of thermodynamics and argue that complex systems like the earth and life cannot evolve, because the second law seems to say that everything in nature is running down and losing energy, not getting more complex. But that's NOT what the…” quote by Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/donald-r-prothero-47249_complex-systems_n-early-every-creationist-debater-will-m_881012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/donald-r-prothero-47249_complex-systems_n-early-every-creationist-debater-will-m_881012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/donald-r-prothero-47249_complex-systems_n-early-every-creationist-debater-will-m_881012.jpg) > ““\[N\]early every creationist debater will mention the second law of thermodynamics and argue that complex systems like the earth and life cannot evolve, because the second law seems to say that everything in nature is running down and losing energy, not getting more complex. But that's NOT what the second law says; every creationist has heard this but refuses to acknowledge it. The second law only applies to closed systems , like a sealed jar of heated gases that gradually cools down and loses energy. But the earth is not a closed system -- it constantly gets new energy from the sun, and this (through photosynthesis) is what powers life and makes it possible for life to become more complex and evolve. It seems odd that the creationists continue to misuse the second law of thermodynamics when they have been corrected over and over again, but the reason is simple: it sounds impressive to their audience with limited science education, and if a snow job works, you stay with it.”” [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The second law of thermodynamics applies only to closed systems; Earth receives solar energy, allowing complexity to increase. **In simple terms:** Second law isn’t about life getting simpler; sun fuels complexity. Key Takeaway Remember energy flow when debating evolution. Themes science energy evolution Mood educational analytical Type explanatory argumentative When to use this quote - classroom teaching - public debates - science communication - environmental policy Key Concepts thermodynamics closed vs open systems Questions to Reflect On - How can we better explain open system dynamics? - What evidence convinces skeptics? A Different Perspective Critics may still misuse concepts despite corrections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complex systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-systems/) [Creationism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creationism/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-education/) ## Related quotes > [Tax dollars intended for science education must not be used to teach creationism as any sort of real explanation of nature, because any observation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/tax-dollars-intended-for-science-education-must-not-be-used-to-teach/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [Providing better computer science education in public schools to kids, and encouraging girls to participate, is the only way to rewrite stereotypes about tech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/providing-better-computer-science-education-in-public-schools-to-kids/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [I, like almost all chemists I know, was also attracted by the smells and bangs that endowed chemistry with that slight but charismatic element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kroto/i-like-almost-all-chemists-i-know-was-also-attracted-by-the-smells/) Harry Kroto > [We've made great progress in educating and informing the public on the importance of getting more rigorous computer science education in all of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-reeves/we-ve-made-great-progress-in-educating-and-informing-the-public-on/) [Tate Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-reeves/) > [“There are those whose views about religion are not very different from my own, but who nevertheless feel that we should try to damp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/there-are-those-whose-views-about-religion-are-not-very-different/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [Computer science education is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/computer-science-education-is-important/) [Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/) > [The word constructionism is a mnemonic for two aspects of the theory of science education underlying this project. 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This balance point—often called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-mitchell-waldrop/all-these-complex-systems-have-somehow-acquired-the-ability-to-bring/) M. Mitchell Waldrop [Browse all 94 Complex systems quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-systems/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[N]early every creationist debater will mention the second law of thermodynamics and argue that complex systems like the earth and life cannot evolve, because the second law seems to say that everything in nature is running down and losing energy, not getting more complex. But that's NOT what the second law says; every creationist has heard this but refuses to acknowledge it. The second law only applies to closed systems , like a sealed jar of heated gases that gradually cools down and loses energy. 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