Abstract: The ecological economists represented by Alier and the ecological Marxists represented by Foster and Burkett have launched a debate on the relationship between Marx and entropy.In view of the important role of entropy law in ecological economics,Alier criticized Marx's indifference to the law of entropy and accused it of ignoring the restriction of natural conditions on human economic and social life.In this regard,Foster and Burkett fought against this criticism,discussing the application of thermodynamics to the formation of labor value and the creation of surplus value in Marx’s analysis and illustrating the multiple significance of Marxism to ecological economics.Foster and Burkett’s anti-criticism is based on the historical materialism,which does not regard ecological environment problems as energy reduction.It further illustrates Marx's thought of “metabolism-thermodynamics” and consolidates the theoretical support for the possibility of the Marxist ecology.

Key words: entropy, ecological economics, ecological Marxism