Frédéric Neyrat
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780823282586
- eISBN:
- 9780823284931
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fordham/9780823282586.003.0014
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
In chapter 13 Neyrat summarizes a variety of conceptions of of the Earth conceived from various actors, from the early founding thinkers of the environmental and ecology movements in the United ...
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In chapter 13 Neyrat summarizes a variety of conceptions of of the Earth conceived from various actors, from the early founding thinkers of the environmental and ecology movements in the United States such as Aldo Lepold and John Muir to more recent scientific conceptions of the Earth as a cybernetic living organism proposed by the celebrated scientist James Lovelock and his Gaia theory or Carolyn Merchant’s conception that each part of the ecosystem contributes to the health of the entire ecosystem as a whole. Neyrat goes on to show that what he terms minoritarian discourses refuse to consider the Earth as something that is mechanical in any way and that it is a living organism in its own right. These minoritarian discourses are in complete contrast to the variety of geo-constructivist discourses that today see the Earth as something technologically manageable.Less
In chapter 13 Neyrat summarizes a variety of conceptions of of the Earth conceived from various actors, from the early founding thinkers of the environmental and ecology movements in the United States such as Aldo Lepold and John Muir to more recent scientific conceptions of the Earth as a cybernetic living organism proposed by the celebrated scientist James Lovelock and his Gaia theory or Carolyn Merchant’s conception that each part of the ecosystem contributes to the health of the entire ecosystem as a whole. Neyrat goes on to show that what he terms minoritarian discourses refuse to consider the Earth as something that is mechanical in any way and that it is a living organism in its own right. These minoritarian discourses are in complete contrast to the variety of geo-constructivist discourses that today see the Earth as something technologically manageable.
George R. McGhee
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262016421
- eISBN:
- 9780262298872
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262016421.003.0004
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter concentrates on the convergent evolution of entire ecosystems, and specifically reviews the convergent evolution of carnivorous plants (plants that eat animals) and herbivorous plants ...
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This chapter concentrates on the convergent evolution of entire ecosystems, and specifically reviews the convergent evolution of carnivorous plants (plants that eat animals) and herbivorous plants (plants that eat other plants). It illustrates that the number of ecological roles or niches available for Earth organisms is demonstrably limited, and discusses the ecological level of communities and ecosystems, which are assemblages of multiple ecological roles. The chapter also mentions that the phenomenon of ecosystem convergence supports the idea that there may be “universal constraints on the ecological roles” played in those ecosystems.Less
This chapter concentrates on the convergent evolution of entire ecosystems, and specifically reviews the convergent evolution of carnivorous plants (plants that eat animals) and herbivorous plants (plants that eat other plants). It illustrates that the number of ecological roles or niches available for Earth organisms is demonstrably limited, and discusses the ecological level of communities and ecosystems, which are assemblages of multiple ecological roles. The chapter also mentions that the phenomenon of ecosystem convergence supports the idea that there may be “universal constraints on the ecological roles” played in those ecosystems.
