Policy implications of Gaian theory

Abstract

A literal and a metaphorical interpretation of Gaian theory are contrasted. It is argued that the literal interpretation raises unnecessary and unresolvable intellectual problems, but that the metaphorical interpretation is defensible and has important implications for the general outlines of environmental policy. The metaphorical interpretation — which generates a number of more specific hypotheses — entails that natural systems must be regarded as self-regulating and self-maintaining, but that these qualities may be diminished, resulting in “illness” of the system. Gaian theory therefore suggests an important analogy between environmental science and medical science: environmental science, like medicine, is value- driven rather than fact-driven. Gaian theory also suggests that environmental problems must be conceptualized on different scales and encourages a hierarchical approach to policy issues, which implies a pluralistic rather than an aggregative analysis of policy options.