Do you like this quote of the day?

Question

"We should be the heart and mind of the Earth not its malady. Perhaps the greatest value of the Gaia concept lies in its metaphor of a living Earth, which reminds us that we are part of it and that our contract with Gaia is not about human rights alone, but includes human obligations."

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/james-lovelock-geoengineering.php

i just read this quote by lovelock, talking about geoengineering. i love the idea of humans as the "heart and mind" of the planet, instead of a parasite on it. what do you see the as the place of the human race on earth?

Answer 1

Bullsh*ite I am afraid.

Gaia? Don't fall into this trap that the World is being affected by us, we are having a tiny effect if any.

Answer 2

I love Lovelock.  I think this perspective on our role on this earth is very responsible and mature.  It's too bad some folks choose to politicize this kind of thing rather than truly trying to understand.

You have to wonder about folks who really rile against a statement like that.  Yeah the term "Gaia" seems all hocus-pocus and freaky, but anyone taking it in the proper context will realize Lovelock is using a very scientific term for a philosophical concept... that ain't really all that philosophical.  The earth is real and there is organic matter on it... it may be unique in the entire Universe.  The organic life forms on the planet who have developed the capacity to think and reason should...

... well... use those gifts responsibly!

For me personally, a statement like that is broad, but very relevant in how I live the rest of my life as well.  Thanks for sharing!

Answer 3

i really like that quote. there are many instances that humans are indeed destroying the earth.

in eras of industrialization although there are advances the side effects can be disastrous. during china's industrialization forests were cut down to supply fuel. modern civilizations are encroaching on limited untouched areas in the world (rainforest, the sea).

also the land fills that are being filled with trash from millions of households.

although i do believe that humans are having a negative effect on the world, i hope that there is some way to change our habits.

Answer 4

"Before we start bioengineering we have to raise the following question: are we sufficiently talented to take on what might become the onerous permanent task of keeping the Earth in homeostasis?"

Is a much better quote of the day in my opinion. Our history, our arrogance, our past mistakes and the sheer weight of Anthropocentric views/reality are highlighted in that one question. The answer of course is a resounding NO! We can't just burying 'our problems' and think we can forget them, no matter if we are doing it with the 'best intention' or not. Good Intentions are nice and cuddly and perhaps better than intending to destroy, or harm (?) Perhaps good intentions are worse than doing nothing?.Good intentions throughout our history have damaged the natural world in an attempt to make it easier for (certain sections of) mankind rather than the whole of the natural world.

IF we are the heart and mind of the Earth, then we are in deep sh**, the good intentions will not save us, only our ACTIONS will.