Is the Gaia hypothesis plausible?

Question

Are there scientific reasons to think that the Earth could be a living organism in its own right, or is the hypothesis hopelessly muddled?

Answer 1

There are several things the earth does that indicate it is alive. About the only thing missing is the ability to reproduce. The earth renews its surface on a regular ongoing basis. The earth recycles naturally almost everything it has. It regulates its temperature with amazing agility. For example, the oxygen content of the atmosphere has been amazingly constant over eons of time. Oxygen is a very reactive element, and for the earth to have plantlife like trees bushes and grasses without bursting into flame is remarkable for a planet. I did see the hour long show called Gaia, this goddess Earth, ( I think that's the title), and they spoke about these very things. As you have indicated, this hypothesis could be so muddled because of the sheer complexity of earth.