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Gaian Politics

A time whose idea has comeA time whose idea has come

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Gaian Politics: Self to World

Gaia theory (James Lovelock, 1970)Gaia theory (James Lovelock, 1970)The presence of life on a planet alters the planet's The presence of life on a planet alters the planet's

geochemistry to favor the continuation of life.geochemistry to favor the continuation of life. Falsifiable scientific theoryFalsifiable scientific theory

More radically, Earth can be seen as a complex, More radically, Earth can be seen as a complex, bounded, self-organizing, adaptive organism. bounded, self-organizing, adaptive organism.

Revival of ancient mythic image of Earth MotherRevival of ancient mythic image of Earth Mother Gaia theory comes just as globalization and Gaia theory comes just as globalization and

environmental destruction call us to a planetary environmental destruction call us to a planetary perspective.perspective.

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Gaia and Systems Theory

Holism, self-generativity, & networksHolism, self-generativity, & networks Living systems: self-generative entities Living systems: self-generative entities

composed of dynamic symbiotic networkscomposed of dynamic symbiotic networks Human systems, like other living systems, are Human systems, like other living systems, are

embedded in the Earth system.embedded in the Earth system.Contrary to liberal notions of independenceContrary to liberal notions of independenceGlobal climate change as the great teacher of Global climate change as the great teacher of

interdependenceinterdependence

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Human systems & Gaia

For the first time in history, humanity is a For the first time in history, humanity is a geophysical force operating on a planetary scale.geophysical force operating on a planetary scale.

Global climate changeGlobal climate change Mass extinction of speciesMass extinction of species Unsustainable resource depletionUnsustainable resource depletion Exponential population growthExponential population growth

Human time vs. Gaian time scalesHuman time vs. Gaian time scales The big Q: The big Q:

Can we harmonize our human systems with Can we harmonize our human systems with Gaia? Gaia?

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Human systems & Gaia

Human purpose in the Gaian systemHuman purpose in the Gaian systemWhat is the purpose of current global human What is the purpose of current global human

systems?systems? Growth (?)Growth (?)

Cyclical processes in GaiaCyclical processes in GaiaGaia knows nothing of wasteGaia knows nothing of wasteIndustrial society & the “toilet assumption”Industrial society & the “toilet assumption”Environmentalism & the rise of “virtuous Environmentalism & the rise of “virtuous

cycles” cycles”

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Learning from Gaia: The Gift of Photosynthesis

Earth's first 'environmental crisis' 3.8 billion years agoEarth's first 'environmental crisis' 3.8 billion years agoBacteria consumed CO2, the greenhouse blanketBacteria consumed CO2, the greenhouse blanket

Photosynthesis: production of Photosynthesis: production of oxygen oxygen opened way for opened way for more complex organisms more complex organisms … … which replenished the most important GHGswhich replenished the most important GHGs… … and led to creation of ozone layerand led to creation of ozone layer

People inducing a new kind of planetary crisisPeople inducing a new kind of planetary crisisCan we trust the intelligence of the system?Can we find it within ourselves?Climate change as the greatest of teachers

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Gaian Ethics & Politics

Precautionary principlePrecautionary principle End of anthropocentrismEnd of anthropocentrism Sidestepping global justice?Sidestepping global justice?

No: North-South equity as “geo-ecological realism” No: North-South equity as “geo-ecological realism” Beyond sovereignty to symbiotic networksBeyond sovereignty to symbiotic networks Gaia & political imaginationGaia & political imagination

Humans not a blight upon the planet, but the Humans not a blight upon the planet, but the means by which Gaia is growing into self-means by which Gaia is growing into self-awareness.awareness.

What might be the purpose of human systems if they What might be the purpose of human systems if they were to be compatible with Gaia? were to be compatible with Gaia?

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Person/Planet Politics: Global Ecology and the Widening Circle of Care

Does consumption entail responsibility?Does consumption entail responsibility? Does distance mitigate responsibilityDoes distance mitigate responsibility

Ex: drowning childEx: drowning child Do global ecological problems call us to a Do global ecological problems call us to a

greater maturity?greater maturity? Self-realization as capacity to seek wider Self-realization as capacity to seek wider

wholeswholes Global ecology expresses human desire/need Global ecology expresses human desire/need

for expanded conception of selffor expanded conception of self

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Culture as Story

Global ecological crisis as a crisis of meaningGlobal ecological crisis as a crisis of meaning As we see, so shall we actAs we see, so shall we act

Foregrounding consciousnessForegrounding consciousness Every culture has a cosmologyEvery culture has a cosmology

What is ours?What is ours? Secularism, the story of modernitySecularism, the story of modernity

Results: anthropocentric world, Results: anthropocentric world, consumerism, North/South divide, divorce of consumerism, North/South divide, divorce of science & religionscience & religion

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Addressing the Crisis of Meaning:Towards a Sustainable Story

Cosmology of interdependenceCosmology of interdependenceEmbedding ourselves in a participatory universeEmbedding ourselves in a participatory universeRevisioning our material relationsRevisioning our material relations

… … with distant peopleswith distant peoples … … with future generationswith future generations … … with the other-than-humanwith the other-than-human

Embracing “nature” as gift, not resourceEmbracing “nature” as gift, not resourceSolar generositySolar generosity

Redefining progress, success, ourselves…Redefining progress, success, ourselves…Ecological selfEcological selfEcological citizenship Ecological citizenship