The Gaia Hypothesis


James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis claim that the entire earth (including the atmosphere) must be understood as one complex evolving organism.  This idea, first put forth in the 1970s, has generated a great deal of debate and has attracted the attention of a number of novelists and pop philosophers.

For a good introduction to the idea, see
        James Lovelock, Gaia:  A New Look at Life on Earth (1979 version available  online.)
        Lynn Margulis, ed., Slanted Truths: Essays on Gaia, Symbiosis, and Evolution.

Links
www.oceansonline.com/gaiaho.htm provides a nice overview of the hypothesis.

http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/GAIA_hypothesis.html is an excerpt from the book Scientists on Gaia (MIT Press, 1991).

www.lancs.ac.uk/users/philosophy/mave/guide/gaiath~1.htm explores the philosophical implications (particularly regarding environmental policy) of the Gaia hypothesis.  

www.ozi.com/ourplanet/gaia.html is a theistic reaction to the Gaia hypothesis.

Gaia in Literature

        Poul Anderson, Genesis, 2000.  (Review)

        David Brin, Earth, 1990.

        Marlin Maddoux, Seal of Gaia: A Novel of the Antichrist, 1998.

        Kevin E. Ready, Gaia Weeps, 1998.

 





Prepared by:  csm, Fall 2002





Hit Counter