¿Es Gaia una teoría adelantada a su tiempo o una broma vitalista?reflexiones para C.T.M.A

Abstract

The Gaia concept has quickly established itself in the pre-college system, without any kind of preassessment. To make possible an informed discussion of the pros and cons of this theory, its strong and weak points are presented. Some historical roots of Gaia are traced, and then the following topics are discussed: (a) the vitalist tradition, (b) the Young Faint Sun Paradox, (c) the evolution of climate, with a constantly liquid hydrosphere but also occasional global ice sheets, (d) the evolution of the biosphere, featuring mass extinctions followed by quick recovering of diversity, (e) the chemical evolution of the atmosphere, (f) the changes in chemical sedimentation, (g) the Earth thermal optimum as compared with its planetary neighbours, and (h) the Gaia postulated loop between Life and Plate tectonics. Finally, we discuss some possible proofs for Gaia, and its philosophical traits.