Gaia: Argument over a single word Essay -- Essays Papers

atomic number 32 Argument over a individual wordTHESIS Life on country has been considered by near as a purposeful interaction tending toward ecological constancy. However, when the scientific community led by James Lovelock tried to match this excogitation with science, it was (and continues to be) a dilemma.IntroductionWhenever one hears the word atomic number 32, he or she depart also hear life, goddess, purpose, ecology, and undoubtedly controversy. Not many topics have kindle more controversy among the scientific community than the idea that the atmosphere, biosphere, and its living organisms support as a single ashes, striving to maintain a stability that is conducive to the existence of lifethe so-called Gaia theory or Gaia hypothesis.The main controversy lies in the fact that the name Gaia comes from an ancient classical goddess (Mother Earth). Since Gaias origins, it seems as if she was the most venerated among the Greek gods Free of birth or destruction, of tim e or space, form or condition, is the Void. From the eternal Void, Gaia danced forth and rolled herself into a spinning ball. She molded mountains along her spine, valleys in the hollows of her flesh. Unceasingly the Earth Mother manifested gifts on her locate and accepted the death into her body. In return, she was revered by all mortals. From in spite of appearance the darkness of her secrets, Gaia received their gifts (Spretnak 47-48).The powerful magnet of the theory is that Gaia is a simple four-letter word that implies feminism and ecology, two aspects that do non fit in rational science. Had the proponents called the theory A cybernetic system with homeostatic tendencies as detected by chemical anomalies in the earths atmosphereas Lovelock intended to call it, the idea may not ha... ...cated matters (as Gaia) throughout history, and the human race has been able to decide whether or not using them is a good technique. There are truths to be discovered and ways of explaini ng them to be deployed. Humans are not the warmheartedness of the universe. Nor is any other species.Lynn MargulisWorks CitedBjornerud Marcia. Gaia-Gender and Scientific Representations of the Earth Part 1 of 2 present-day(a) Womens Database Sep. 1997 96-106.Linden, Eugene. Ideas How the Earth Maintains Life an Intriguing Scientific Theory Continues to Win Adherents. era 13 Nov. 1989 114.Lutzenberg, Jose. Gaias Fever. The Ecologist Mar.-Apr. 1999 59.Margulis, Lynn. Life on Earth Doesnt Need Us. Independent 02 Sep. 1998 5.Spretnak, Charlene. at sea Goddesses of Early Greece A Collection of Pre-Hellenic Myths. Boston Beacon Press, 1984.