Name of the topic : Earth as a living system
Description: Name of the topic : Earth as a living system Paper Name-Environmental Psychology (Core-VIII,Unit-1,Ch-1) Name of the Department-Psychology Faculty-Lekha Das Designation: Assistant Professor of Psychology Gaia Hypothesis In Greek, Gaia means
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slide1. Name of the topic : Earth as a living system Paper Name-Environmental Psychology (Core-VIII,Unit-1,Ch-1) Name of the Department-Psychology
Faculty-Lekha Das
Designation: Assistant Professor of Psychology<br>
slide2. Gaia Hypothesis In Greek, Gaia means the Goddess of Earth. Lovelock's Gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3.8 billion years, a holistic feedback system has played out in the biosphere, with life forms regulating temperature and proportions of gases in the atmosphere to life's advantage.
The Gaia hypothesis proposes that organisms (biotic) interact with their inorganic (abiotic) surroundings on the earth to form a self regulating complex system that contributes to maintaining the conditions for life in the earth.<br>
slide3. Gaia hypothesis……. The earth is a self-regulating system involving the biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and pedosphere tightly coupled as an evolving system.
The system as a whole called Gaia seeks a physical and chemical environment optimal for contemporary life.
Gaia hypothesis draws a connection between survivability of a species and its usefulness to the survival of other species.
Evidences in support of Gaia hypothesis: Ocean salinity, Earth’s surface temperature, Regulation of oxygen in the atmosphere, and processing of carbon dioxide,<br>
slide4. Attributes of Gaia 1. Earth is a super organism mixed with living and nonliving systems.
2.Biota and physical environment are closely interrelated.
3.The climate and chemical composition of earth are kept in homeostasis by and for the biosphere.
4. The oxygen content of the atmosphere is kept within range that all oxygen breathing animals require.<br>
slide5. Attributes of Gaia…. 5.Since life started on earth, the energy provided by sun has increased by 25 to 30% , however, the surface temperature of the planet has remained within the levels of habitability.
6.Ocean salinity has remained constant for quite a ling time.
7. Gaia scientists see the participation of living organisms in carbon cycle as a complex process that maintain conditions suitable for life.<br>
slide6. Implications of Gaia hypothesis 1. Gaia has vital organs that need to be protected but earth is very resilient and capable of withstanding excessive abuse. Lovelock maintains that even a nuclear war cannot damage earth because it is open to unlimited development.
2.The evolution of humans with high technological inventiveness has increased Gaia’s range of perception.
3.Gaia hypothesis and speculations treat humans as the intelligence of Gaia.<br>
slide7. Summary The Gaia Hypothesis states that life on earth controls the physical and chemical conditions of the environment (the biotic controls the abiotic)
The hypothesis was formulated by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis (1972,1974).
The hypothesis points to stable conditions, such as oxygen levels and climate, as evidence that living organisms maintain a life-sustaining environment<br>
slide8. Deep Ecology Man-environment relationship is disturbed.
Deep ecology provides a solution to the environmental crisis by advocating a radical shift in the way people relate to the environment.
Deep ecological movement has been characterized by a move fro anthropocentrism to eco-centrism.
The Deep ecology movement emerged during the Ecological Revolution of 1960s.<br>
slide9. …… Deep ecology is an environmental movement initiated by a Norwegian philosopher, Arnie Naess (1972).
He coined the term ‘Deep Ecology’ to propose a radical change in human-being’s relationship to nature.
Deep ecology is based on two principles.<br>
slide10. …… 1. The scientific insight into the interrelatedness of all systems of life on earth.
2. The need for human self realization.
Explanations of Deep Ecology
Anthropocentrism or human-centeredness of the earth is a misguided philosophy. The earth is created not only for the humans but also for all the living and nonliving entities.
Humans must grow ecocentric attitude<br>
slide11. Principles of Deep Ecology Proponents of deep ecology believe that the world does not exist as a resource to be freely exploited by humans.
Material goods do not guarantee happiness beyond a moderate level, and over-consumption is endangering the biosphere.
Hence, a new non-consumptive paradigm of well-being is imperative. The ethics of deep ecology hold that the survival of any part is dependent upon the well-being of the whole. Proponents of deep ecology offer an eight-point platform to justify their claims<br>
slide12. ….. 1.The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.
2.Richness and diversity of forms life contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves
3.Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital human needs.<br>
slide13. ……. 4.The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease of the population.
5.Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.
6. Policies must therefore be changed with regard to economic, social, political, technological, and ideological standards. Hence, the resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present<br>
slide14. …………. 7.The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great.
8.Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to try to implement the necessary changes<br>
slide15. Man Environment Relationship Environment is the principal source for the existence, survival, and development of the living beings.
It mostly consists of the natural and physical environment, such as landscape, climate, flora, fauna, terrain, temperature, rainfall and other geographic features.
The behavior and activities of all organisms are dramatically influenced by these factors of the environment.
But when it comes to case of human beings, the environment is more complex and dynamic .<br>
slide16. …… Human beings not only add dimensions to the characteristics of their physical environment, but also they compose a complex system of the environment using their socio-cultural and psycho-cognitive elements.
Therefore, the environment of the human beings is characteristically assorted from that of the other animals.<br>
slide17. ………………. Smith & Bond (1993) observed that there are five major factors which influence the physical and social behavior of human beings
Physical Environment
It includes the aspects of the natural environment of the individual such as the climate, terrain, temperature, rainfall, flora, fauna etc.
There are lots of variations in the physical environment of people across the world. For example, the annual range of temperature in the Eastern Siberia is -71o c to 14oc while the same in some part of Central Asia is between 22o to 60o.
Likewise, such wide diversities are also observed with respect to rainfall, land and soil, flora, fauna etc. across the globe.<br>
slide18. ………………….. Social environment. It refers to the action and characteristics of people and the way they influence one another in the society.
It also includes the nature of interactions among social groups, institutions, families, and community.
Cultural Environment : It includes all aspects of the culture such as norms, customs, institutions, childrearing practices, art, literature etc. Every community has an assorted culture which is different from other cultures.<br>
slide19. ……………….. Environmental orientation. It refers to the beliefs that people hold about their environment. For example, people in our Indian culture mostly believe that environment is superior to man, and man-environment interaction is a peaceful coexistence.
Environmental behavior. It refers to the use of environment by people in the course of their social interaction.
Products of behavior. It refers to the outcomes of people’s action such as homes, cities, dams, climate change, goods etc.<br>
Faculty-Lekha Das
Designation: Assistant Professor of Psychology<br>
slide2. Gaia Hypothesis In Greek, Gaia means the Goddess of Earth. Lovelock's Gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3.8 billion years, a holistic feedback system has played out in the biosphere, with life forms regulating temperature and proportions of gases in the atmosphere to life's advantage.
The Gaia hypothesis proposes that organisms (biotic) interact with their inorganic (abiotic) surroundings on the earth to form a self regulating complex system that contributes to maintaining the conditions for life in the earth.<br>
slide3. Gaia hypothesis……. The earth is a self-regulating system involving the biosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and pedosphere tightly coupled as an evolving system.
The system as a whole called Gaia seeks a physical and chemical environment optimal for contemporary life.
Gaia hypothesis draws a connection between survivability of a species and its usefulness to the survival of other species.
Evidences in support of Gaia hypothesis: Ocean salinity, Earth’s surface temperature, Regulation of oxygen in the atmosphere, and processing of carbon dioxide,<br>
slide4. Attributes of Gaia 1. Earth is a super organism mixed with living and nonliving systems.
2.Biota and physical environment are closely interrelated.
3.The climate and chemical composition of earth are kept in homeostasis by and for the biosphere.
4. The oxygen content of the atmosphere is kept within range that all oxygen breathing animals require.<br>
slide5. Attributes of Gaia…. 5.Since life started on earth, the energy provided by sun has increased by 25 to 30% , however, the surface temperature of the planet has remained within the levels of habitability.
6.Ocean salinity has remained constant for quite a ling time.
7. Gaia scientists see the participation of living organisms in carbon cycle as a complex process that maintain conditions suitable for life.<br>
slide6. Implications of Gaia hypothesis 1. Gaia has vital organs that need to be protected but earth is very resilient and capable of withstanding excessive abuse. Lovelock maintains that even a nuclear war cannot damage earth because it is open to unlimited development.
2.The evolution of humans with high technological inventiveness has increased Gaia’s range of perception.
3.Gaia hypothesis and speculations treat humans as the intelligence of Gaia.<br>
slide7. Summary The Gaia Hypothesis states that life on earth controls the physical and chemical conditions of the environment (the biotic controls the abiotic)
The hypothesis was formulated by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis (1972,1974).
The hypothesis points to stable conditions, such as oxygen levels and climate, as evidence that living organisms maintain a life-sustaining environment<br>
slide8. Deep Ecology Man-environment relationship is disturbed.
Deep ecology provides a solution to the environmental crisis by advocating a radical shift in the way people relate to the environment.
Deep ecological movement has been characterized by a move fro anthropocentrism to eco-centrism.
The Deep ecology movement emerged during the Ecological Revolution of 1960s.<br>
slide9. …… Deep ecology is an environmental movement initiated by a Norwegian philosopher, Arnie Naess (1972).
He coined the term ‘Deep Ecology’ to propose a radical change in human-being’s relationship to nature.
Deep ecology is based on two principles.<br>
slide10. …… 1. The scientific insight into the interrelatedness of all systems of life on earth.
2. The need for human self realization.
Explanations of Deep Ecology
Anthropocentrism or human-centeredness of the earth is a misguided philosophy. The earth is created not only for the humans but also for all the living and nonliving entities.
Humans must grow ecocentric attitude<br>
slide11. Principles of Deep Ecology Proponents of deep ecology believe that the world does not exist as a resource to be freely exploited by humans.
Material goods do not guarantee happiness beyond a moderate level, and over-consumption is endangering the biosphere.
Hence, a new non-consumptive paradigm of well-being is imperative. The ethics of deep ecology hold that the survival of any part is dependent upon the well-being of the whole. Proponents of deep ecology offer an eight-point platform to justify their claims<br>
slide12. ….. 1.The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.
2.Richness and diversity of forms life contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves
3.Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital human needs.<br>
slide13. ……. 4.The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease of the population.
5.Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.
6. Policies must therefore be changed with regard to economic, social, political, technological, and ideological standards. Hence, the resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present<br>
slide14. …………. 7.The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great.
8.Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to try to implement the necessary changes<br>
slide15. Man Environment Relationship Environment is the principal source for the existence, survival, and development of the living beings.
It mostly consists of the natural and physical environment, such as landscape, climate, flora, fauna, terrain, temperature, rainfall and other geographic features.
The behavior and activities of all organisms are dramatically influenced by these factors of the environment.
But when it comes to case of human beings, the environment is more complex and dynamic .<br>
slide16. …… Human beings not only add dimensions to the characteristics of their physical environment, but also they compose a complex system of the environment using their socio-cultural and psycho-cognitive elements.
Therefore, the environment of the human beings is characteristically assorted from that of the other animals.<br>
slide17. ………………. Smith & Bond (1993) observed that there are five major factors which influence the physical and social behavior of human beings
Physical Environment
It includes the aspects of the natural environment of the individual such as the climate, terrain, temperature, rainfall, flora, fauna etc.
There are lots of variations in the physical environment of people across the world. For example, the annual range of temperature in the Eastern Siberia is -71o c to 14oc while the same in some part of Central Asia is between 22o to 60o.
Likewise, such wide diversities are also observed with respect to rainfall, land and soil, flora, fauna etc. across the globe.<br>
slide18. ………………….. Social environment. It refers to the action and characteristics of people and the way they influence one another in the society.
It also includes the nature of interactions among social groups, institutions, families, and community.
Cultural Environment : It includes all aspects of the culture such as norms, customs, institutions, childrearing practices, art, literature etc. Every community has an assorted culture which is different from other cultures.<br>
slide19. ……………….. Environmental orientation. It refers to the beliefs that people hold about their environment. For example, people in our Indian culture mostly believe that environment is superior to man, and man-environment interaction is a peaceful coexistence.
Environmental behavior. It refers to the use of environment by people in the course of their social interaction.
Products of behavior. It refers to the outcomes of people’s action such as homes, cities, dams, climate change, goods etc.<br>