Written for nonscientists, gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. James lovelock, a british scientist and inventor, shortly after his work with nasa in determining that there was probably no life on mars. James lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of factvalue dualism article pdf available december 2011 with 1,321 reads how we measure reads. Gottgens conservation biologyhans papers 2010tilman and downing 1994 nature. But according to james lovelock, the theory s originator, that organism is now sick.
Lovelocks theory that life all clubs together for some sort of mutual advantage is inconceivable. 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. James ephraim lovelock, ch cbe frs born 26 july 1919 is an independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist. The gaia theory posits that the earth is a selfregulating complex system. Lovelock s gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3.
David suzuki talks with james lovelock about the origins of his gaia hypothesis, which suggests that the earth is one organism. Lovelock explains that the initial formulation was based on observation, but still lacked a scientific explanation. He argues that the anthropocene the age in which humans acquired planetaryscale technologies is, after 300 years, coming to an end. 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. In this classic work that continues to inspire its many readers, jim lovelock puts forward his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. Outlines jim lovelock s original theory that life on earth functions as a single organism, a hypothesis which has generated great debate in scientific circles. Lovelock was employed by nasa, as part of the team that aimed to detect. Gaia hypothesis, model of the earth in which its living and nonliving parts are viewed as a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism.
Lovelocks gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3. Lovelock s theory that life all clubs together for some sort of mutual advantage is inconceivable. James lovelock and the gaia theory posits that the earth is a selfregulating complex system involving. James lovelock developed the gaia theory in the 1960s while working with nasa.
James lovelock english chemist, doctor, and author britannica. While other scientists suggested elaborate tests involving space probes to check for microbes in martian soil, lovelock said to save the rocket fuel, we didnt even need to bother going there. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments and provided a number of useful predictions. 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. James lovelock and the gaia hypothesis new scientist. Apr 30, 2008 david suzuki talks with james lovelock about the origins of his gaia hypothesis, which suggests that the earth is one organism. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments 8 and provided a number of useful predictions, 9 and hence is properly referred to as the gaia theory. In the revenge of gaia, bestselling author james lovelock father of climate studies and originator of the influential gaia. The gaia theory of james lovelock proposes that the earth is a selfregulating system, or superorganism, maintaining conditions hospitable to contemporary planetary biota. A new look at life on earth, the revenge of gaia, the vanishing face of gaia, and a rough ride to the future. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. James lovelock, english chemist, medical doctor, scientific instrument developer, and author best known for the creation and promulgation of the gaia hypothesis, an idea rooted in the notion that all life on earth is part of an entity that regulates earths surficial and atmospheric processes. 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. The evolving gaia theory james lovelock paper presented at the united nations university on 25 september 1992 tokyo, japan dr.
Organisms can greatly affect their environments, and the feedback coupling between. James lovelock gaia theory college of science and mathematics. James lovelock originator of gaia theory and inventor of. Developed by scientist and inventor james lovelock, and microbiologist lynn margulis, the gaia hypothesis originally proposed that life, through its interactions with the earths crust, oceans. But according to james lovelock, the theorys originator, that organism is now sick. Gaia hypothesis village as lovelock at the time bowerchalke, wiltshire, uk. Beautiful minds james lovelock the gaia hypothesis gaia. In the extreme form, strong negative biotic feedbacks on temperature can regulate the global energy balance into a state of homeostasis i. James lovelock and lynn margulis coined the phrase the gaia hypothesis to suggest not only that life has a greater influence on the evolution of the earth than is typically assumed across most earth science disciplines but also that life serves as an active control system. Books james lovelock originator of gaia theory and. 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. Gaia theory, while once ridiculed, is now accepted by most scientists, so many of its predictions having objectively been seen to come to pass. James lovelock is not part of a university, research institute, or business firm. James lovelock, gaian pilgrimage\rin the encyclopedia of religion and nature\rbron taylor, ed.
The key insight of gaia theory is that the entire earth functions as a single living superorganism. James lovelock will go down in history as the scientist who changed our view of the earth from a barren rock covered with a thin coating of life. 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. James lovelocks gaia hypothesis has challenged conventional thinking about the nature of the earth as an integrated system. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments20 and provided a number of useful.
James lovelocks gaia hypothesis archive ouverte hal. The gaia hypothesis a, also known as the gaia theory or the gaia principle, proposes. Lovelock first began thinking that the planet resembles a living entity in the 1960s, while working for a nasa project on how to detect life on mars. Apr 23, 2012 james lovelock developed the gaia theory in the 1960s while working with nasa. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of. With a phd in medicine, lovelock began his career performing cryopreservation experiments on rodents. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis. The gaia hypothesis postulates that the earths surface is maintained in a.
He is best known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system. Her theories on microbiological evolution are internationally accepted as the new standard in this field. The weak gaia theory is pretty much just saying that the earth and the organisms within it are an interconnected system with feedback loops and therefore capable of selfregulating up to a point. 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. James lovelock bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Scientists finally have an explanation for the gaia puzzle. Outlines jim lovelocks original theory that life on earth functions as a single organism, a hypothesis which has generated great debate in scientific circles. Basic evolutionary theory disproves this almost completely survival of the fittest what does lynn margulis say makes dawkins views on evolution and the gaia hypothesis compatible. But, as james broughton said, the only limits are, as always, those of vision.
James lovelock, gaias grand old man the scientist who first theorized that our planet is a biological organism, not merely a rock, discusses life on earth and the possibilities for its future. Mar 17, 2020 james lovelock will go down in history as the scientist who changed our view of the earth from a barren rock covered with a thin coating of life. Specifically, the gaia hypothesis said that the temperature, oxidation state, acidity, and certain aspects of the rocks and waters are at any time kept constant, and. The gaia hypothesis proposes that our planet functions as a single organism that maintains conditions necessary for its survival. 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. This suggests the biosphere is a selfregulating system. 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. James lovelock simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It claims that all of the organic and inorganic components of earth are closely integrated to form a single and self.
Earth will adjust to these stresses, but the human race faces a severe test. From the documentary series the sacred balance, produced by. It claims that all of the organic and inorganic components of. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis but has also used the term gaia theory. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of fact.
Jun 25, 2019 lovelocks gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3. Sep 12, 20 the weak gaia theory is pretty much just saying that the earth and the organisms within it are an interconnected system with feedback loops and therefore capable of selfregulating up to a point. James lovelock, creator of the gaia hypothesis and the greatest environmental thinker of our time, has produced an astounding new theory about future of life on earth. In the 1960s, nasa set up its planetary exploration program with a mission to determine whether there was life on mars. His research led to profound new insights about life on earth. Aug 17, 2000 james lovelock, gaias grand old man the scientist who first theorized that our planet is a biological organism, not merely a rock, discusses life on earth and the possibilities for its future. We have begun to add a new series of scientific papers by prof lovelock coauthors onto the website. Pdf after a career as a chemist and engineer, james lovelock. Apr 27, 2008 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 ages of gaia a biography our living earth james e lovelock. Gaia a new look at life on earth james lovelock oxford landmark science.
Pdf in this paper the relationship between gaia theory and factvalue dualism must be understood from two angles. Gaia proposes that the earth acts like a living organism. The author of more than 200 scientific papers, he was elected a fellow of the royal society in 1974. James lovelock explains gaia hypothesis on the sacred balance. James ephraim lovelock ch cbe frs born 26 july 1919 is an independent scientist who lives in devon. It is running a fever born of increased atmospheric greenhouse gases. In the revenge of gaia, bestselling author james lovelock father of climate studies and originator of the influential gaia theory which views the entire earth as. Distinguished university professor in the department of geosciences, university of massachusettsamherst. One of two original proponents of gaia theory, along with dr. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of. James lovelock wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. James lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. Kirchner department of earth and planetary science, university of california, berkeley, ca 947204767, u. The gaia theory was developed in the late 1960s by dr.
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