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Medea Or Gaia?

The Medea Hypothesis
"In The Medea Hypothesis, renowned paleontologist Peter Ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of life's relationship with the Earth's biosphere--one that has frightening implications for our future, yet also offers hope. Using the latest discoveries from the geological record, he argues that life might be its own worst enemy. This stands in stark contrast to James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis--the idea that life sustains habitable conditions on Earth. In answer to Gaia, which draws on the idea of the "good mother" who nurtures life, Ward invokes Medea, the mythical mother who killed her own children. Could life by its very nature threaten its own existence?

According to the Medea hypothesis, it does. Ward demonstrates that all but one of the mass extinctions that have struck Earth were caused by life itself. He looks at our planet's history in a new way, revealing an Earth that is witnessing an alarming decline of diversity and biomass--a decline brought on by life's own "biocidal" tendencies. And the Medea hypothesis applies not just to our planet--its dire prognosis extends to all potential life in the universe. Yet life on Earth doesn't have to be lethal. Ward shows why, but warns that our time is running out."
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8855.html

The Gaia Hypothesis
"The Gaia hypothesis is an ecological hypothesis proposing that the biosphere and the physical components of the Earth (atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere) are closely integrated to form a complex interacting system that maintains the climatic and biogeochemical conditions on Earth in a preferred homeostasis. Originally proposed by James Lovelock as the earth feedback hypothesis,[1] it was named—at the suggestion of his neighbor William Golding—the Gaia Hypothesis, after the Greek supreme goddess of Earth.[2] The hypothesis is frequently described as viewing the Earth as a single organism. Lovelock and other supporters of the idea now regard it as a scientific theory, not merely a hypothesis, since they believe it has passed predictive tests"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis

Just a little food for thought...
Are you Gaian or Medean?

By Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) on Jul 12, 2009, 08:57 in Off Topic.

Man Tequila says on Jul 12, 2009, 09:01:

One could be both -- believe that genocide is common and that Earth helps sustains life.

But since you ask, I wonder if Pow Wow is Gaian? ;)

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 12, 2009, 09:08:

I think I'd rather be a little Gaian too...that Medea theory is a bit scary, methinks. Pow wow? Yeah, he sounds quite Gaian t me.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 12, 2009, 10:38:

That was a cozy thought....

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 12, 2009, 11:14:

You're welcome to digress on this one...it's not about visa paperwork or airline tickets.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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lpdiver says on Jul 12, 2009, 13:00:

Personally I believe we evolved to meet the criteria/conditions that exists on the earth and that we will evolve with the changes.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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