Is the Earth alive?

Question

Would you call the earth an organism? why why not?
I'm not too eager for technically correct answers..need some different thinking here!

Answer 1

The Earth isn't alive because it doesn't behave as a unified organism with a common goal. However, there are analogous processes in the atmosphere and biosphere that mimic life.

The forests absorb energy from the sun and nutrients from the ground and convert it to food consumed by animals - who in turn are consumed by other animals. The rivers and oceans, like the circulatory system, bring water to the forests and help facilitate migration.

Humanity plays an important part too. We are the brain - we figured out the shape of the other and the complex structures of our ecosystems - much like an organism becoming self aware. Now for the first time we truly have a global information relay network.

If mankind one day colonises Mars and other planets, you could call that a rough equivalent of reproduction.

Answer 2

When a technical question suffices, there is no need for 'different' thinking. The answer is no. To call the Earth alive is pure religion. If the Earth is alive then the whole universe is alive, which negates the meaning of the word 'alive.'

Answer 3

It seems like a matter of definition.
The earth is host to many living things but it is just a big rocky ball.
The universe on the other hand is living.
Some time in the past the universe developed the capacity to become aware of itself.
We are that awareness, without us it would be a raging unknowing beast

Answer 4

I believe that the Earth itself has a spirit, or soul, just as everything else does on the planet, from plants and animals to innanimate objects such as rocks.

It is the philosophy of what I believe in spiritually as well, as the path of Paganism I follow.

And now to watch the "thumbs down" actions flow...

Answer 5

I actuallybeleive that the Earth isn't exactly "alive", like with organs or anything, but instead, it's alive in the sense that it's a home for everything else. Like a drop of water: it doesn't breath or anything, but it's ALIVE with other organisms. It's kind of like a philosophy question. But hey, thanks for making me think.

Answer 6

if you look at the big picture, there are thousands of square miles of forest on this planet that are alive. And this planet moves all by itself. This planet would be better off without humans on it, because we are destroying planet Earth.If Earth could rid itself of humans, it would take a millennium for it to heal itself.

Answer 7

I think it is. Everyone talks about the Sun dying, but no one wants to talk about the Earth in those terms. It is a threatening question to a lot of people.

Answer 8

Things ON earth are alive but not the earth itself. It is made of rock, metal, and water. And hopefully you can guess that none of those are "alive".

Answer 9

Here are two good books for you by someone who is known for considering this idea using science, James Lovelock. The first discusses the basic idea. In the second, he discusses how we're affecting the planet.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192862189/sr/ref=pd_cp_b_title/002-5991381-4595253?ie=UTF8&qid=1177003951&sr=8-3&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=005MTCG0ZAFYMY9P34XB&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=252362401&pf_rd_i=1856752313

http://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Gaia-Earths-Climate-Humanity/dp/046504168X/ref=pd_sim_b_1/002-5991381-4595253?ie=UTF8&qid=1177003951&sr=8-3

Answer 10

it might be a massive organism ,say akin to an elephant who does his thing walking in the forest w/o realizing he steps on mice,bugs,other assorted tiny life forms,,,,,,,,steps onem innocently while searching for chompies,,,,earth ,with all its hurricanes,storms,earthquakes,,,,,causes loss of human life unintentionally,,,,,,,its just being earth.......concept is 'geios'.....greek word,,,,,,,maybe mama earth is pissed irritated cuzza pollution eroding the thin ozone layer,destruction of oxygen producing trees,,reacts by melting polar caps to flood vegetation growing de-forested areas in order to restore cut down areas