Figure 1.

Three different examples that can lead to confusion regarding maximization of entropy production: (a) confusion 1, originating from a difference in focus on understanding transient behaviour versus the selection among steady states of a system; (b) confusion 2, originating from the maximization of one flux that can simultaneously result in a decrease or even minimization of another flux, here illustrated with a simple electric circuit diagram with a fixed resistance R₁ and the sensitivity of dissipation of the resistances R₁ and R₂ to the value of R₂ and (c) confusion 3, originating from the drawing of the system's boundary (see text for further explanations).