James lovelock gaia theory college of science and mathematics. His research led to profound new insights about life on earth. James lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of factvalue dualism article pdf available december 2011 with 1,321 reads how we measure reads. Aldo leopold and the gaia hypothesis for more information on gaia theory see. The gaia hypothesis james lovelock 1979 earth is a super organism it is alive like one single organism name is from greek earth godess gaia one step further than mother earth lovelock is a reputable scientist with a hypothesis that it pretty far out proposed as a testable scientific hypothesis. Many of this centuries top scientists have written and spoken eloquently about how the gaia theory can help us model human activities after the living systems of our planet. The gaia hypothesis a, also known as the gaia theory or the gaia principle, proposes. Gaia a new look at life on earth james lovelock oxford landmark science. David suzuki talks with james lovelock about the origins of his gaia hypothesis, which suggests that the earth is one organism.
Existing theories held that plants and animals evolve on, but are distinct from, an inanimate planet. Gaia scientist takes back climate change predictions. James lovelock is a british scientist, an atmospheric chemist, and also an inventor with an education in human physiology. Explains how the earths living matter, air, ocean, and land together form a complex system that has the capacity. James lovelock, who coined the term gaia hypothesis shockingly predicted this merger, or even a takeover or elimination of humanity by robots, two years ago more momentarily. The gaia theory was developed in the late 1960s by dr.
The man who achieved global fame for his theory that the whole earth is a single organism now believes that we can only hope that the earth will take care of itself in the face of completely unpredictable. Gottgens conservation biologyhans papers 2010tilman and downing 1994 nature. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis. Kirchner department of earth and planetary science, university of california, berkeley, ca 947204767, u. An analysis of the impact of the gaia theory on ecology. Kastingapril 24, 2014 i first met james lovelock in 1988 at a conference on his controversial gaia hypothesis that was sponsored by the american geophysical union. The gaia hypothesis proposes that our planet functions as a single organism that maintains conditions necessary for its survival. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting. From gaia theory to deep ecology by stephan harding, resident ecologist at schumacher college, an international centre for ecological studies.
When he first sketched out his brilliant gaia theory in the 1970s, people around the world embraced it. Homage to gaia follows james lovelock s struggle to develop a theory that would redefine how we see the earth while coming to terms with what it means to be a responsible child of earth. Lovelock proposes radical theories that contrast markedly with traditional green thinking as well as forecasting in stark detail what may occur if action is not taken. A new look at life on earth, oxford university press, 1979. Welcome to the personal website of james lovelock, originator of gaia theory, inventor of the electron capture detector which made possible the detection of cfcs and other atmospheric nanopollutants and of the microwave oven. What can the father of gaia theory tell us about our future. The revenge of gaia is a scientific book by esteemed scientist james lovelock which discusses the effect human activity is having on the planet and what if anything can be done to halt the damage we have already caused. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of. The concept of the gaia hypothesis originates from the 1960s when british scientist and independent researcher james lovelock began his work with nasa on developing methods to detect life on mars.
Pdf in this paper the relationship between gaia theory and factvalue dualism must be understood from two angles. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments20 and provided a number of useful. The word ecology is used by western scientists to refer to the branch of biology that. James lovelock argues that such things as the level of oxygen, the formation of clouds, and the saltiness of the oceans may all be controlled by. The gaia theory posits that the earth is a selfregulating complex system. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of fact. James lovelock, the scientist and author behind the gaia hypothesis, calls his own projections about global warming alarmist and says global warming hasnt happened as expected. Lovelock didnt break any records with this literary publication, but he created. Their mission is to search for life, or evidence of life, now or long ago. This paper investigates the impact of ideas published within the gaia theory as set out by james lovelock in 1979, on the study of ecology and evolutionary theory. James lovelocks gaia hypothesis has challenged conventional thinking about the nature of the earth as an integrated system. Previously, you may recall that lovelock threw global warming under the bus. James lovelock and the gaia hypothesis new scientist.
Gaia proposes that the earth acts like a living organism. A key theoretical element of gaia is that, as with any complex. The gaia hypothesis proposed that life on earth is a selfregulating system involving the biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the pedosphere skin of soil and living organisms, all of which are intimately integrated as an evolving complex system. James lovelock, a british scientist and inventor, shortly after his work with nasa in determining that there was probably no life on mars. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting world we have learned so much about our home planet in the three decades since james lovelock wrote gaia.
Formulated by james lovelock in the mid1960s and published in a book in 1979, this controversial idea has spawned several interesting ideas and many new areas of research. The world can be seen as a complex interacting system, behaving in some ways. In those years, james lovelock was appointed by nasa to investigate the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the atmosphere. When a colleague and i interviewed him in 2000, he said that by the end of the 1980s he had begun to feel that his work on gaia had been. If one it is at all interested in saving gaia, and humanity, it is time to listen to him. Lovelock explains that the initial formulation was based on observation, but still lacked a scientific explanation. Science in chemistry, taking a post at the national institute of medical research in london. Will tomorrow bring hordes of militant gaia activists enforcing some pseudoscientific idiocy on the community, crying there is no god but gaia and lovelock. After postulating there was a force for life on earth, in which all biology participates gaia this system may fight back, or limit the species which threatens to overwhelm nature. James lovelock explains gaia hypothesis on the sacred. As he writes, through gaia theory i now see the system of the material earth and the living organisms on it, evolving so that selfregulation is an emergent property.
When lovelock introduced it in 1972, gaia was an amusing, fanciful name for a familiar concept. A succinct overview of james lovelocks gaia hypothesis. Trained as a field ecologist, stephan harding collaborates with james lovelock on gaian computer modelling. When the gaiamovement living earth green world action usa, inc. The gaia hypothesis the gaia hypothesis is a hypothesis that was developed by james lovelock and lynn margulis in the late 1970s. James lovelock developed the gaia theory in the 1960s while working with nasa. An analysis of the impact of the gaia theory on ecology and evolutionary theory. James lovelock originator of gaia theory and inventor of.
The practical science of planetary medicine lovelock, james. It claims that all of the organic and inorganic components of. If science cannot find room for the grand vision, if gaia dare. In the 1970s, the chemist james lovelock proposed the gaia theory or gaia hypothesis, named after the greek earth goddess, gaia. James lovelock, the man behind the gaia theory, thinks that climate change will wipe out most of us this century but there may be one way to save ourselves interview father earth. Revisiting james lovelocks theory as it approaches 50. In 1941, he graduated from manchester university with b. Lovelock s gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3. They believe that the concept offers lessons for the design of economic, energy. Organisms can greatly affect their environments, and the feedback coupling between.
Gaia, to remind you, was the mythical greek goddess who embodied mother earth. The idea that life on earth regulates the physical and. James lovelock the practical science of planetary medicine, p. Lovelock admitted that the relentless criticism pained him. Gaia, the grand idea 5 gaia is the earth seen as a single physiological system, an entity that is alive at least to the extent that, like other living organisms, its chemistry and temperature are selfregulated at a state favourable for life. We have begun to add a new series of scientific papers by prof lovelock coauthors onto the website. Gaia theory some early objections strong gaia the version put forward by lovelock and margulis is strong in that it depicts terrestrial life as influencing the abiotic world by a series of negative feedback loops in a way that is fundamentally stabilizing. If youre familiar with the gaia theory, this book offers little new information. From the documentary series the sacred balance, produced by. That disturbance in the force felt earlier today was the wailing and gnashing of teeth heard from ecofollowers worldwide when they heard the father of gaia say the much hated and maligned fracking process is ok.
James lovelocks gaia hypothesis archive ouverte hal. It is plalinly laid out, and lovingly expounded upon. Opening chapter by james lovelock foreword by bill mckibben. The gaia theory was formulated by the british scientist, james lovelock in 1970 and james lovelock then believed in sustainability and treeplanting. Lovelock s quest for gaia has led to the founding of the green movement and created a theory that is now the basis for almost all climate. In the 1970s, the chemist james lovelock proposed the gaia hypothesis, named after the greek earth goddess, gaia. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. Introductory as i write, two viking spacecraft are circling our fellow planet mars, awaiting landfall instructions from the earth. James ephraim lovelock was born on july 26, 1919, in letchworth garden city, hertfordshire, england. The idea that life on earth regulates the physical and chemical conditions of the environment suitable for life. Lynn margulis, department of biology, boston university, 2. Exploring our lovehate relationship with gaia new scientist.
Gaia, however, showed that the earth, its rocks, oceans, and atmosphere, and all living things are part of one great organism, evolving together over the vast span of geological. Bbc 2s 1986 horizon programme won many new followers for jim lovelocks startling new theory of life called gaia. James ephraim lovelock, is an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist who lives in dorset, england. Gaia theory news, research and analysis the conversation. Along with nasa colleague dian hitchcock, lovelock found that the current state of mars atmosphere was in what appeared to be a state of equilibrium. He is best known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, which he discusses in this. Pdf after a career as a chemist and engineer, james lovelock proposed the gaia hypothesis in the 1970s with lynn margulis, a biologist. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis but has also used the term gaia theory. James lovelock, who developed his ideas about life regulating the earths environment in the 1960s earth is a perfect planet for life but, according to gaia theory, this is no coincidence. The gaia theory of james lovelock proposes that the earth is a selfregulating system, or superorganism, maintaining conditions hospitable to contemporary planetary biota. Outlines jim lovelocks original theory that life on earth functions as a single organism, a hypothesis which has generated great debate in scientific circles. Lynn margulis was a microbiologist during the 1970s at boston university. Sir james lovelock, scientist and investigator, on his gloomiest climate change book so far.
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