entropy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy

Entropy is a measure of the disorder of a system [or] how much energy is not available to do work.
https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/12-3-second-law-of-thermodynamics-entropy

A physical system is less available to do work when entropy is high.

The first law of thermodynamics is a formulation of The Law of Conservation of Energy in the context of thermodynamic processes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_law_of_thermodynamics

The second law of thermodynamics [asserts] the total entropy of a system either increases or remains constant in any spontaneous process; it never decreases.

https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/12-3-second-law-of-thermodynamics-entropy

Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) asserts a physical system adapts to states which dissipate energy and produce disorder at the fastest possible rate, while still remaining within the constraints of its environment.

So, a physical system probably maximizes its rate of entropy production while navigating an environment.

So, a physical system probably maximizes its rate of energy which is not available to do work while navigating an environment.