2014-04-27
Explanation
The Joke
A smug man declares "Nice try, evolutionist! But the Second Law of Thermodynamics disproves evolution!" This is a common creationist talking point. Below the panel, the comic provides a mock definition of the Second Law of Thermodynamics: "Life on Earth can't get more complex because that would require energy, and the sun doesn't exist."
The Humor
The joke targets a well-known but deeply flawed creationist argument against evolution. Some creationists claim that the Second Law of Thermodynamics (which states that entropy in a closed system tends to increase over time) means that complex life forms could not have evolved from simpler ones. However, this argument fundamentally misunderstands the law -- the Earth is not a closed system. It receives a massive and constant influx of energy from the Sun, which easily provides the energy needed to drive the processes of biological evolution and increasing complexity.
By restating the creationist version of the Second Law as requiring that "the sun doesn't exist," the comic exposes the absurdity of the argument. The creationist interpretation only works if you ignore the enormous external energy source that bathes the Earth every day, which is obviously ridiculous.
References
- The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system tends to increase over time. It does not apply to open systems like Earth, which receives energy from the Sun.
- The "thermodynamics disproves evolution" argument is a recurring trope in creationist apologetics that has been debunked extensively by scientists.