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We frequently reverse (or hold in abeyance for a time) a bit of entropy. We call it "growing our living body" -- or, "manufacturing".

I invite anyone who does not believe entropy to be the eventual physical victor to examine any old auto salvage yard -- or my Jeep, which spent several winters on salty New England roads. (The rear bumper recently fell completely off when I hit a big bump while "four-wheeling" on my "back fifty"...) '-)

But that Jeep didn't weld its own bumper back on; I did that -- by adding more metal to fabricate new mounting brackets.

And as an archaeologist, I can attest that I have seen human burials in acid soil that left little remaining evidence other than the disturbed soil of the burial pit -- and a vague stain at the bottom -- plus a few stone or pottery "grave goods". Entropy is the eventual physical victor...

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But, as I understand it, bb is not confining her discussion to the purely physical...

Wish I had time to stay and join bb's side of the disciussion, but political battles need fighting...

But, as I understand it, bb is not confining her discussion to the purely physical...

Your understanding is totally correct TXnMA! I'm not speaking merely of the physical. There are all kinds of "phenomenal things" in the world that are not "physical." Spirited irish gave some great examples here.

And certainly I am not denying the Second Law of Thermodynamics, as MarkBsnr seems to be suggesting!

I'd only wish to point out that the Hungarian theoretical biologist Ervin Bauer has noticed something very interesting about life forms of all descriptions: While living, they appear to try to maintain maximal distance from entropy. Death occurs when they can no longer do that.

So, the vitally interesting question, "What is Life?"

It seems to me Life itself is not "physical," though it implements organic physicality, if I might put it that way.

It ain't something science is ever going to isolate by means of its own methods.

Which only says to me that the methods and techniques of science, as superb as they are, do not reach to all the important questions of human and cosmic existence.

[What political battle are you fighting now, dear brother in Christ? I wish you had time to stay, too! :^)]

Thank you ever so much for writing, dear TXnMA!