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The Gaia Theory – Scientific Model and Metaphor
for the 21st Century
[150kb MS Word document]
 Abstract: This paper introduces the Gaia
Theory, a compelling scientific context for understanding life on our
planet. The theory asserts that the organic and inorganic components of
Earth form a seamless continuum - a single, self-regulating, living
system. British scientist, James Lovelock, who was commissioned by NASA to
determine whether or not there was life on Mars, developed the Gaia Theory
in the 1970’s. Ironically, this theory has yielded some of the most
“cutting edge” insights into life on Planet Earth. For example, Lovelock
found ways in which the Gaian system regulates surface temperature, ocean
salinity, and other conditions at levels necessary for life to survive.
This paper also includes discussion about the value of the Gaia Theory for
environmental educators.
Gaia
Theory: Science of the Living Earth
Compiled by D. Orrell provides a good
description of the Gaia Theory.
James A.
Lovelock’s “Official” Website
Contains a significant inventory of Professor Lovelock's writings on Gaia
Theory and other energy-related issues, as well as biographical information,
photo gallery, and transcripts.
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Allaby, Michael. 1989. A Guide to Gaia. E.P. Dutton, New York.
Bunyard, Peter, Ed. 1996. Gaia in Action; Science of the Living Earth. Floris Book, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Dyson, Freeman. 1992. From Eros to Gaia. Pantheon Books, New York.
Lovelock, James. 1979. Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. Oxford University
Press, Oxford, England.
Lovelock, James. 1988. The Ages of Gaia: A Biography of Our Living Earth. W.
W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York.
Lovelock, James. 1991. Healing Gaia: Practical Medicine for the Planet.
Harmony Books, New York. REPRINTED IN 1999 as “Gaia: The Practical Science
of Planetary Medicine”
Leopold, Aldo. 1949. A Sand County Almanac; and Sketches Here and There.
Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.
Margulis, Lynn, and Dorian Sagan. 1995. What is Life? Simon and Schuster,
New York.
Myers, Norman. 1984. Gaia: An Atlas of Planetary Management. Anchor Books,
Garden City, New Jersey.
Sahtouris, Elisabet. 2000. EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution, Praeger.
Available free in PDF, HTML or text (Awaiting Re-printing).
Click here.
Schneider, Steven H., Miller, James R., Crist, Eileen and Boston, Penelope
J. Boston, Eds. 2004. Scientists Debate Gaia. MIT Press, Cambridge,
Massachusetts
 Thompson, William Irwin, Ed. 1987. Gaia, A Way of Knowing: Polical
Implications of the New Biology. Lindesfarne Press, Great Barrington,
Massachusetts.
Volk, Tyler. 1998. Gaia's Body: Toward a Physiology of Earth. Springer-Verlag
New York, Inc., New York.
Westbroek, Peter. 1991. Life as a Geologic Force. W.W. Norton and Company,
Inc., New York.
Williams, George Ronald. 1996. The Molecular Biology of Gaia.
Columbia University Press, New York.
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