Gaia

Humans on Earth behave in some ways like a pathogenic micro-organism

Humans on Earth behave in some ways like a pathogenic micro-organism, or like the cells of a tumor.

I'd look for life on Mars in the composition of its atmosphere, not by crawling around looking for bugs

I’d look for life on Mars in the composition of its atmosphere, not by crawling around looking for bugs.

Philosophers and scientists have made the same mistake: they assumed the environment was fixed

Whenever philosophers and scientists have tried to explain how life evolved, they have made the same mistake: they’ve assumed that the environment was fixed and that the organisms simply …

The Gaia hypothesis is for those who like to walk or simply stand and stare

The Gaia hypothesis is for those who like to walk or simply stand and stare, to wonder about the Earth and the life it bears.

We have given Gaia a fever and soon her condition will worsen to a state like a coma

We have given Gaia a fever and soon her condition will worsen to a state like a coma. She has been there before and recovered, but it took more than 100,000 years.

A temperature rise of more than two degrees C risks altering the Earth system irreversibly.

“A temperature rise of more than two degrees C risks altering the Earth system irreversibly.” — James Lovelock

Gaia is a very simple idea: that the Earth works as a single, complex, self-regulating system.

“Gaia is a very simple idea: that the Earth works as a single, complex, self-regulating system.” — James Lovelock

Humanity is not separate from Gaia; we are a part of her body. To harm her is to harm ourselves.

“Humanity is not separate from Gaia; we are a part of her body. To harm her is to harm ourselves.” — James Lovelock

If we go on wrecking the biosphere, our technical and moral loftiness will count for nothing.

“If we go on wrecking the biosphere, our technical and moral loftiness will count for nothing.” — James Lovelock

Let us hope that humanity will see through science that it must live in harmony with all life, not just exploit it.

“Let us hope that humanity will see through science that it must live in harmony with all life, not just exploit it.” — James Lovelock

Our task is not to save the Earth. She will endure. It is our civilization, our children, who are at risk.

“Our task is not to save the Earth. She will endure. It is our civilization, our children, who are at risk.” — James Lovelock

quote: "gaia is a tough bitch: she..." lynn margulis

“Gaia is a tough bitch: she has endured cataclysmic change for billions of years.” — Lynn Margulis Symbiotic Planet (1998)

The Gaia hypothesis tells us that life and the Earth are inseparable, two sides of one great process.

“The Gaia hypothesis tells us that life and the Earth are inseparable, two sides of one great process.” — James Lovelock

The planet we abuse will find ways to restore balance, but not necessarily in ways that are kind to us.

“The planet we abuse will find ways to restore balance, but not necessarily in ways that are kind to us.” — James Lovelock

We are part of Gaia’s experiment. Whether we remain part of her future depends on how we live now.

“We are part of Gaia’s experiment. Whether we remain part of her future depends on how we live now.” — James Lovelock

We have to accept that we are modest parts of the functioning of Earth, not its masters.

“We have to accept that we are modest parts of the functioning of Earth, not its masters.” — James Lovelock

We need to see ourselves not as stewards of nature, but as participants in a vast, living system.

“We need to see ourselves not as stewards of nature, but as participants in a vast, living system.” — James Lovelock

Quote: Arne Naess; “Now is the time to share with all life…”

“Now is the time to share with all life on our maltreated earth by deepening our identification with all life-forms, with the ecosystems, and with Gaia, this fabulous, old planet of ours. we need the …