James Lovelock's
Gaia Theory fitted well with Teddy's ideas on the emergent properties of systems and as Jim lived near Camelford, where we were at the time publishing The Ecologist, we decided to hold a symposium on the implications of the
Gaia Theory for ecology and the environment.
I subscribe to James Lovelock's
Gaia theory which views the world as a self-sustaining organic system.
GAIA theory, scientific insights and a focus on a living earth make for wonderful, revealing reading in his new book.
He's a critic of the current notions of development and his position springs from an extensive knowledge of the science of climate change and an unimpeachable reverence for the interconnectedness of life on the planet, as articulated in his
Gaia theory, combined with an alarm at the complacency around the seriousness of global warming.
The book is organized around five succinct chapters summarizing in turn the
Gaia theory, process theology, "new cosmology," ecofeminism, and liberation theology.
Gaia Theory, a "life-like" model of how the planet works, was invented by Dr.
Scharper sees -- for those who wish to read deeper -- antecedents to the
Gaia theory in the work of G.F.
Finally, geophysiology, including
Gaia theory, has reworked the biosphere into the most ancient and powerful of all living forms -- something so much greater than the human that it can evoke a religious response.
The
Gaia Theory is still controversial, but I think the system's approach and perspective on life IS an important one.
But, as a chart for humanity, biocentrism, the
Gaia theory, and the rejection of speciesism take us a step or two beyond the flat-worlders.
The
Gaia theory -- which suggests that the earth is a single, self-regulating organism -- was first demonstrated using a crude computer model called Daisyworld created by scientist James Lovelock.