The Gaia Hypothesis: Science on a Pagan Planet (science.culture)

In 1965, English scientist James Lovelock proposed that Earth is not merely inhabited by life, but is itself a living system. He developed this idea through conversations with novelist William Golding and extensive collaboration with American scientist Lynn Margulis, publicly introducing the Gaia hypothesis in the early 1970s. The hypothesis posits that planetary processes work toward the good of Earth itself. While professional scientists rejected the idea, the public embraced it widely, spawning Gaia groups, religious services, gardening practices, retreats, and related cultural phenomena. Philosopher Michael Ruse examines the Gaia hypothesis and its history to explore fundamental questions about science itself. He traces its intellectual roots to Plato and organicist thinking, explaining why the scientific establishment dismissed it as pseudoscience. Ruse argues that despite peer rejection, Lovelock and Margulis succeeded in grounding philosophical concepts in scientific inquiry and sparked important discussions about planetary systems, homeostasis, and environmental stability. The book connects scientific and technological perspectives with mysticism and religion, addressing how Gaia emerged during the 1960s when traditional authority faced widespread questioning.