Gaia Hypothesis

There is a scientific theory which encompasses the idea of Mother Earth. This is known as the Gaia Hypothesis, which is a theory that tries to explain how everything on the planet, all the life and the environment, is interconnected.

The basis of the theory is that the earth and everything in it is one single entity, and that all of the organisms and inorganic matter co-evolved to create on self-regulating system. So as the organic life on the planet evolves, it is influenced by the inorganic matter or the environment. Similarly, as Inorganic matter ‘evolves’ or changes, this too is influenced by the organic matter around it.

The theory argues that the earth as a whole will react in an automatic manner in a way which appears to keep the conditions on the planet ‘just right’ for living organisms. It is thought the Gaia principle has influenced not only governmental environmental policy, but also social and economic policy as well.