"Specifically, it is to be found in an examination of the concept of Earth: the Greek Gaia or Ge, the Latin Tellus or Terra, and the related idea of cosmos, as it developed through ancient history. No other idea is so central to the understanding of environmental history in this age, or probably any age in the history of mankind. Indeed one possible meaning of the word "earth" in classical literature is "environment." " - GAIA: Environmental Problems in Chthonic Perspective Author(s): J. Donald Hughes and Richard Frank Source: Environmental Review: ER, Vol. 6, No. 2,
"A final observation seems in order. To paraphrase James Lovelock, the chthonic view of the environment does not envision "a subjugated biosphere with man in charge." Mankind is not the "possessor of this planet," but "a part of, or partner in, a very democratic entity." These words, which he applies to the Gaia hypothesis, express equally well the chthonic tradition in classical thought. Other tendencies in Western intellectual history have made man the lord of the Earth, conqueror of nature, uncaring consumer of the Earth's "natural resources." This is the attitude that continues to lead us in the present time, the Age of the Great Recessional, when each year Earth is losing more forms of life than in centuries before. In a decade when we are being told that we have to sacrifice environmental values for industrial growth and national strength, we could find healing in another voice, that of the ancient Hymn to Earth, Mother of All: Gaia, mother of all, I sing, oldest of gods, Firm of foundation, who feeds all creatures living on earth, As many as move on the radiant land and swim in the sea And fly through the air--all these does she feed with her bounty. Mistress, from you come our fine children and bountiful harvests; Yours is the power to give mortals life and to take it away."
It is also interesting to note the Persian angle and a reason to introduce a satrap to a region. Hard lessons they had already had to learn.
Ancient Judaism has often been accused of positing humanity as the dominant species over the earth, which results from a wrongheaded reading of Genesis 1:26-28. Jehovah God never intended for humans to dominate the earth, but to cultivate and preserve it--to care for and tend it. So God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth (Rev. 11:18).
On the other side of the ledger, some have elevated Gaia to a divine position. The creature starts to take the place of the Creator, which is just as wrong as abusing the earth.
6 comments:
"Specifically, it is to be found in an examination of the concept of Earth: the Greek Gaia or Ge, the Latin Tellus or Terra, and the related
idea of cosmos, as it developed through ancient history.
No other idea is so central to the understanding of environmental history in this age, or probably any age in the history of mankind.
Indeed one possible meaning of the word "earth" in classical literature is "environment." " - GAIA: Environmental Problems in Chthonic Perspective
Author(s): J. Donald Hughes and Richard Frank
Source: Environmental Review: ER, Vol. 6, No. 2,
"A final observation seems in order.
To paraphrase James Lovelock,
the chthonic view of the environment does not envision "a subjugated biosphere with man in charge." Mankind is not the "possessor of this planet," but "a part of, or partner in, a very democratic entity."
These words, which he applies to the Gaia hypothesis, express equally well the chthonic tradition in classical thought.
Other tendencies in Western intellectual history have made man the lord of the Earth, conqueror of nature, uncaring consumer of the Earth's "natural resources."
This is the attitude that continues
to lead us in the present time, the Age of the Great Recessional,
when each year Earth is losing
more forms of life than in centuries
before.
In a decade when we are being told that we have to sacrifice environmental values for industrial
growth and national strength, we could find healing in another voice,
that of the ancient Hymn to Earth, Mother of All: Gaia, mother of all,
I sing, oldest of gods, Firm of foundation, who feeds all creatures
living on earth, As many as move on the radiant land and swim in the sea
And fly through the air--all these does she feed with her bounty.
Mistress, from you come our fine children and bountiful harvests;
Yours is the power to give mortals life and to take it away."
It is also interesting to note the Persian angle and a reason to introduce a satrap to a region. Hard lessons they had already had to learn.
Ancient Judaism has often been accused of positing humanity as the dominant species over the earth, which results from a wrongheaded reading of Genesis 1:26-28. Jehovah God never intended for humans to dominate the earth, but to cultivate and preserve it--to care for and tend it. So God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth (Rev. 11:18).
On the other side of the ledger, some have elevated Gaia to a divine position. The creature starts to take the place of the Creator, which is just as wrong as abusing the earth.
Genesis 35:11
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/13167?lang=bi
https://legal-planet.org/2011/07/20/the-real-mistake-in-dominion-theology/
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