Gaia's Gift: Earth, Ourselves and God After Copernicus

Description

In this, the second of Anne Primavesi's explorations of human relationships with the Earth, she asks that we complete the ideological revolution set in motion by Copernicus and Darwin concerning human importance. They challenged the notion of our God-given centrality within the universe and within Earth's evolutionary history. Yet as our continuing exploitation of Earth's resources and species demonstrates, we remain wedded to the theological assumption that these are there for our sole use and benefit. Now James Lovelock's scientific understanding of the existential reality of Gaia's gift of life again raises the question of our proper place within the universe. It turns us decisively towards an understanding of ourselves as dependent on, rather than in control of, the whole Earth community.

Retired. Former Research Fellow in Environmental Theology at Bristol University, but now best know for her pioneering work on Gaia theory and ecological ethics