Published in 1965 by James Lovelock, the Gaia Hypothesis proposes that organism’s interact with their inorganic surrounding on Earth to form a complex, self-regulating system that maintains the conditions of life on the planet. The theory has sparked religious, philosophical reflection, and challenged assumptions about the evolution, and the importance of humans in determining environmental change, and the relationship between life and the environment. In this essay I will be exploring and comparing the Gaia hypothesis in relation to Algic indigenous tribes beliefs and ideology. Land destruction and global warming are ecological problems that can be approached with the ideology of the Gaia theory.
insights from the Gaia theory to similar …show more content…
Both Gaia theory and Indigenous cosmologies are synthesized on the idea of perceiving the Earth as a living organism, and treating it as one. Menominee Natives believe that nature has its own voice, natural gestures and sounds such as the wind blowing through the trees, a crow cawing, and the pounding of the ocean are often perceived as forms of planetary communication. They also believe their own vocalization as part of nature’s expressiveness, and so they practice with chants and ceremonies held by songs, prayers that hold and portray vocal powers. And unfortunately western society’s alienation of nature and primitive practices has caused humanity to objectify nature. Land destruction causes humanity to stop nature’s communicational and vocal sources and will lead to further separation and destruction of the relationship of humanity and Gaia. Therefore a synthesis is needed as the Native Americans evidently have proven that their ideology has survived for thousands of years and so with the addition of the science of the Gaia theory, modern society can best understand the mystical value system that the Native Americans followed only to protect Earth. This synthesis I would argue is the awakening of modernity’s selfishness to an evolving society that will care and value Earth as a living organism that is apart of our
insights from the Gaia theory to similar …show more content…
Both Gaia theory and Indigenous cosmologies are synthesized on the idea of perceiving the Earth as a living organism, and treating it as one. Menominee Natives believe that nature has its own voice, natural gestures and sounds such as the wind blowing through the trees, a crow cawing, and the pounding of the ocean are often perceived as forms of planetary communication. They also believe their own vocalization as part of nature’s expressiveness, and so they practice with chants and ceremonies held by songs, prayers that hold and portray vocal powers. And unfortunately western society’s alienation of nature and primitive practices has caused humanity to objectify nature. Land destruction causes humanity to stop nature’s communicational and vocal sources and will lead to further separation and destruction of the relationship of humanity and Gaia. Therefore a synthesis is needed as the Native Americans evidently have proven that their ideology has survived for thousands of years and so with the addition of the science of the Gaia theory, modern society can best understand the mystical value system that the Native Americans followed only to protect Earth. This synthesis I would argue is the awakening of modernity’s selfishness to an evolving society that will care and value Earth as a living organism that is apart of our