• Brillouin, L.

Abstract

A short summary of the two principles of thermodynamics, together with the statistical interpretation of entropy, is given. It is shown that the definition of "information" leads to a direct connection between information and the negative of entropy (abbreviated: negentropy). Every experiment consumes negentropy (increases entropy) and yields information. The negentropy principle of information is a generalization of Carnot's principle, and is explained on different examples. The informational value of physical laws is discussed and the role of creative thinking emphasized.