"If the second law of thermodynamics were false, a ship would be able to
travel at the expense of the heat of the ocean." This argument is typical
of the era of Postscientism in which science is just money. The argument is
invalid: if the second law is false travelling would still be impossible
since the ocean and the ship would be at almost the same temperature and in
such almost isothermal conditions the heat exchange would be extremely slow.
In another era (or in a different world) the question would be: Are
isothermal heat engines possible, although no money can be extracted from
them? In our world the silent but unanimous answer is: Who cares. In the
other world aliens would study isothermal heat engines diligently and may
even find a way to resolve the slow-heat-exchange problem and ease the
energy crisis.
Pentcho Valev
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