On Organizational Efficiency and the Limits of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Toward an Information-Centered Theory of Organization

Abstract

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics has significantly advanced our understanding of pattern formation, dissipation, and structure maintenance in driven systems. However, it remains limited in its ability to distinguish meaningful organization from mere low-entropy order. In this article, I argue that these limitations arise from the absence of an explicit informational variable in standard thermodynamic descriptions. I introduce the concept of organizational efficiency, a quantity that captures how effectively usable information counteracts entropic drift to sustain structure. I analyze the conceptual boundaries of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and show that an information-centered extension is required to explain stability, adaptability, and self-organization across physical and biological systems. The framework provides a unified interpretation of organization beyond entropy production alone and yields testable predictions for complex systems.