The Gaia theory argues that the Earth is poised to reproduce. Experiments show that mini-biospheres are a possibility - complete ecological systems in which life is possible. The author argues that these experiments give an indication of a possible future for both man and the Earth.
Lynn Margulis is celebrated for her innovative contributions to biology, showcased in this collection of her work alongside essays by Dorion Sagan. The book offers a deep dive into her influential ideas, emphasizing the significance of her research in understanding life on Earth. Esteemed figures like Edward O. Wilson and James Lovelock highlight its importance in the scientific community, making it a vital resource for anyone interested in the history and philosophy of biology. This compilation encourages readers to engage with profound questions about life.
From one of the great iconoclasts of modern biology, Lynn Margulis, a groundbreaking new theory of the origins of species schovat popis
The Gaia theory states that on Earth, life interacts with and eventually becomes its own environment. Gaia is a holistic perspective asserting that the Earth is a self-regulating complex system, resonant with the ancient magico-religious understanding that all is one. Innovated by the atmospheric chemist James Lovelock, supported by microbiologist Lynn Margulis and named by novelist William Golding, Gaia states that the temperature and composition of the Earth's atmosphere are actively regulated by the sum of life on the planet, which, seeking a physical and chemical environment optimal for contemporary life, influences the physical attributes of Earth on a planetary scale. In the way that the human mind extends DNA, the atmosphere is an extension of the biosphere: as above, so below. Fusing science, mathematics, philosophy, ecology and mythology, Gaia and Philosophy challenges the anthropocentrism of Western rationalist thought to propose a symbiotic planet. In its striking philosophical conclusion - that the cybernetic control of the Earth's surface by its organisms calls into question the alleged uniqueness of human intelligent consciousness - the revolutionary Gaia paradigm holds important implications not only for understanding life's past but for shaping its future.