Gaia in Turmoil (MIT Press): Climate Change, Biodepletion, and Earth Ethics in an Age of Crisis

Essays link Gaian science to such global environmental quandaries as climate change and biodiversity destruction, providing perspectives from science, philosophy, politics, and technology. Gaian theory, which holds that Earth's physical and biological processes are inextricably bound to form a self-regulating system, is more relevant than ever in light of increasing concerns about global climate change. The Gaian paradigm of Earth as a living system, first articulated by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis in the 1970s, has inspired a burgeoning body of researchers working across disciplines that range from physics and biology to philosophy and politics. Gaia in Turmoil reflects this disciplinary richness and intellectual diversity, with contributions (including essays by both Lovelock and Margulis) that approach the topic from a wide variety of perspectives, discussing not only Gaian science but also global environmental problems and Gaian ethics and education. Contributors focus first on the science of Gaia, considering such topics as the workings of the biosphere, the planet's water supply, and evolution; then discuss Gaian perspectives on global environmental change, including biodiversity destruction and global warming; and finally explore the influence of Gaia on environmental policy, ethics, politics, technology, economics, and education. Gaia in Turmoil breaks new ground by focusing on global ecological problems from the perspectives of Gaian science and knowledge, focusing especially on the challenges of climate change and biodiversity destruction. Contributors David Abram, Donald Aitken, Connie Barlow, J. Baird Callicott, Bruce Clarke, Eileen Crist, Tim Foresman, Stephan Harding, Barbara Harwood, Tim Lenton, Eugene Linden, Karen Litfin, James Lovelock, Lynn Margulis, Bill McKibben, Martin Ogle, H. Bruce Rinker, Mitchell Thomashow, Tyler Volk, Hywel Williams Gaian Theory, Which Holds That Earth's Physical And Biological Processes Are Inextricably Bound To Form A Self-regulating System, Is More Relevant Than Ever In Light Of Increasing Concerns About Global Climate Change. The Gaian Paradigm Of Earth As A Living System, First Articulated By James Lovelock And Lynn Margulis In The 1970s, Has Inspired A Burgeoning Body Of Researchers Working Across Disciplines That Range From Physics And Biology To Philosophy And Politics. This Book Reflects This Disciplinary Richness And Intellectual Diversity, With Contributions (including Essays By Both Lovelock And Margulis) That Approach The Topic From A Wide Variety Of Perspectives, Discussing Not Only Gaian Science But Also Global Environmental Problems And Gaian Ethics And Education. Contributors Focus First On The Science Of Gaia, Considering Such Topics As The Workings Of The Biosphere, The Planet's Water Supply, And Evolution; Then Discuss Gaian Perspectives On Global Environmental Change, Including Biodiversity Destruction And Global Warming; And Finally Explore The Influence Of Gaia On Environmental Policy, Ethics, Politics, Technology, Economics, And Education. This Book Breaks New Ground By Focusing On Global Ecological Problems From The Perspectives Of Gaian Science And Knowledge, Focusing Especially On The Challenges Of Climate Change And Biodiversity Destruction. --back Cover. One Grand Organic Whole / Eileen Crist And H. Bruce Rinker -- Our Sustainable Retreat / James Lovelock -- How The Biosphere Works / Tyler Volk -- Water Gaia : 3.5 Thousand Million Years Of Wetness On Planet Earth / Stephan Harding And Lynn Margulis -- Gaia And Evolution / Timothy M. Lenton And Hywel T.p. Williams -- Forest Systems And Gaia Theory / H. Bruce Rinker -- Gaia And Biodiversity / Stephan Harding -- Global Warming, Rapid Climate Change, And Renewable Energy Solutions For Gaia / Donald W. Aitken -- Gaia's Freshwater : An Oncoming Crisis / Barbara Harwood -- Deep Time Lags : Lessons From Pleistocene Ecology / Connie Barlow -- From The Land Ethic To The Earth Ethic : Aldo Leopold And The Gaia Hypothesis / J. Baird Callicott -- Principles Of Gaian Governance : A Rough Sketch / Karen Litfin -- In The Depths Of A Breathing Planet : Gaia And The Transformation Of Experience / David Abram -- Sustainability And An Earth Operating System For Gaia / Tim Foresman -- The Gaian Generation : A New Approach To Environmental Learning / Mitchell Thomashow -- Gaia Theory : Model And Metaphor For The Twenty-first Century / Martin Ogle -- Neocybernetics Of Gaia : The Emergence Of Second-order Gaia Theory / Bruce Clarke -- Intimations Of Gaia / Eileen Crist -- Gaia Going Forward / Eugene Linden. Edited By Eileen Crist And H. Bruce Rinker ; Foreword By Bill Mckibben. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 8 Foreword 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 18 I Introductory Essays 20 1 One Grand Organic Whole 22 2 Our Sustainable Retreat 40 II The Science of Gaia 44 3 How the Biosphere Works 46 4 Water Gaia 60 5 Gaia and Evolution 80 6 Forest Systems and Gaia Theory 104 III Imperiled Biosphere 124 7 Gaia and Biodiversity 126 8 Global Warming, Rapid Climate Change, and Renewable Energy Solutions for Gaia 144 9 Gaia’s Freshwater 170 10 Deep Time Lags 184 IV Gaian Ethics and Education 194 11 From the Land Ethic to the Earth Ethic 196 12 Principles of Gaian Governance 214 13 In the Depths of a Breathing Planet 240 14 Sustainability and an Earth Operating System for Gaia 262 15 The Gaian Generation 274 16 Gaia Theory 294 17 Neocybernetics of Gaia 312 18 Intimations of Gaia 334 V Afterword 354 19 Gaia Going Forward 356 About the Contributors 362 Index 366