Abstract: The role of the "process of death" in evolution of the universe
and the creation of complexity is discussed. Where the concept of
"death" includes the meaning of a thermodynamic-like death of an organized
entity. This process of death is viewed in terms of major levels
of complexity with the context of massive dissipative structures.
We hypothesize that within a level of major complexity there are three
regimes: chaotic, ordered, and the edge-of-chaos. The role of "death"
is a form of information feedback from order to chaos via the edge-of-chaos
between levels of major complexity. Death can release stored information
that is key to the further evolution of complexity of a surrounding dissipative
structure. It is further hypothesized that in the increasing complexity
of our existence, there are successive levels of selection processes. By
understanding these processes we can predict the structure of our future.