Mediations of Gaia
Mediations of Gaia
Ecology and Epistemology from Gregory Boteson and Felix Guattari to Avatar
This chapter analyzes the theory of metabiotic autopoietic systems back to biotic autopoiesis and its subsequent developments, and towards the Gaia hypothesis. The theories of cognition from the previous chapters are rooted in the cellular sentience proposed by biological systems theory and validated by contemporary molecular biology and microbial ecology, all of which resulted in a corresponding conception of the biosphere. The chapter begins with tracing the history of the word ecology, citing Gregory Bateson’s collection of professional papers, Steps to an Ecology of Mind, as an influential work of the natural concept towards “an ecology of ideas.” Felix Guattari formulated his own ecological theory in The Three Ecologies, which can be juxtaposed to that of Bateson’s. The chapter explores Bruno Latour’s research on the film Avatar and its application of Gaian science, aka Earth system science.
Keywords: Gaia hypothesis, biological systems theory, biosphere, ecology, Gregory Bateson, Felix Guattari, Bruno Latour, Gaian science
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