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Work #592 · Late

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

James Lovelock
1979 · English
Earth-systems science · Earth-systems science / Gaia theory

Lovelock's 1979 foundational text of the Gaia hypothesis — Earth as a self-regulating organism

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Cosmic-ordering
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

The geological-Gaian time of Earth-system regulation.

Space

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

The planetary Earth space.

Matter

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

Central — the material Earth as self-regulating organism.

Observer

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

Gaia herself as self-regulating Earth.

Energy

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

Energies of Earth-system feedback regulation.

Information

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

Foundational Gaia-Earth-systems framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth

Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis controversial but foundational for Earth-systems science.