Energy was the ruling theme of Victorian science, as machines increasingly harnessed the forces of nature to do man’s work. The concept is also present in the art and literature of the age, notably in the poems of William Blake. The Romantic movement was much interested in energy and its various transformations.

Von Neumann told Shannon to call his measure entropy, since “no one knows what entropy is, so in a debate you will always have the advantage.

Von Neumann told Shannon to call his measure entropy, since "no one knows what entropy is, so in a debate you will always have the advantage.

Energy was the ruling theme of Victorian science, as machines increasingly harnessed the forces of nature to do man's work. The concept is also present in the art and literature of the age, notably in the poems of William Blake. The Romantic movement was much interested in energy and its various transformations.