#8

When reading The GAIA Hypothesis, Lovelock's view seemed very different from others we have mentioned in class. Maybe this was because is a geochemist, and an inventor, instead of a philosopher. Lovelock did not appear to be a fan of humans, and mainly concentrated on scientific explaintions. Lovelock stated, "That Gaia can be both spiritual and scientific is, for me, deeply satisfying." (p. 130). The main thing when looking at Lovelock's view was when he was talking about Earth and giving facts about how Earth itself has changed. For example, "Roughly 4000 million years, the temperature of the Sun rose so much that the Earth today receives 3.3 times as much energy as in its beginnning." (p.132). The GAIA Hypothesis represents qualities and weaknesses of objectification in ecological ethics.

Morris also had a different perspective as well, and it seemed like many of his views dealt with animals. He talked about keeping the environment clean, and helping animals from going extinct. I don't really agree with Morris' idea that the "American society of his time as a society torn between the primate and the wolf components of our genetic memory." (p. 137). I like Morris' view better that Lovelock's because he looks at it from a prospective as controlled of sociobiology, and "seeking to understand human comportment in terms of our genetic memory." (p.138).

Lovelock and Morris both bring up different views, and both were very interesting to me. I have gained many new outlooks from this class so far, and learn new things each week. And although I will probably never read The Diversity of Life, I'm sure it is a very interesting book with many valid points.