Weaknesses Of Deep Ecology and Gaia Hypothesis

Question 1

They’re too unrealistic

Answer 1

humans are simply too short sighted and self interested for a democratic politics to take this agenda seriously

Question 2

Global capitalism is based upon economic growth

Answer 2

clashes with the sustainable approach to the environment

Question 3

Singer believes that the intrinsic value is not for all the planet

Answer 3

• all life forms can have valiue but it’s only justifiable to give intrinsic value to sentient lifeforms

Question 4

Singer also criticises Lovelocks use of Gaia to personify earth

Answer 4

this metaphorical language gives the earth a consciousness that is not there

Question 5

Dawkins, Doolittle and Gould criticise Lovelocks teleological approach (by purpose aimed towards a goal)

Answer 5

saying nature does not have foresight

Question 6

Gould criticism

Answer 6

Gaia being a metaphor

‘ metaphor, not a mechanism’ its too vague to address real concerns

Question 7

There’s many example where

Answer 7

life has destabilising effects on the environment

Question 8

Gould Quote?

Answer 8

Gaia hypothesis ‘ is supported by neither evolutionary theory nor by the empirical evidence of the geological record’