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Title: The Biosphere and Noosphere Reader: Global Environment, Society and Change by Paul R. Samson, David Pitt ISBN: 0-415-16645-4 Publisher: Routledge Pub. Date: May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $36.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Vindicating Teilhard
Comment: Coined in 1922 by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ (1881-1955), in association with Edouard Le Roy and Vladimir Vernadsky, the word and notion of the NOO-SPHERE were introduced to the English-speaking world by Vernadsky's paper on "The Biosphere and the Noosphere" published in 1945 in "American Scientist" (Vol.33, pp.1-12). In "Fundamentals of Ecology" (1962:26; 1971:35) Eugene Odum said, "This is dangerous philosophy, because it is based on the assumption that mankind is now wise enough to safely take over the management of everything!" In fact, Teilhard assumed nothing about the wisdom of HOMO SAPIENS. But, whether we like it or not, we ARE increasingly responsible and accountable for the management and husbandry of everything, starting with Planet Earth but already extending to the nearest "islands" of outer space. As Mikhail Gorbachev said in 1999 in his foreword to this Reader, "We have reached the phase in cultural evolution where we must assume full responsibility for our power... Knowing and reaching our fullest potential within the constraints of the BIOSPHERE must be the ultimate goal - the driving vision of the 21st century. And the NOOSPHERE concept suggests a philosophy for such a necessary balance" (p.x).
With the possible exception of Blessed John Duns Scotus, no one since St John of Damascus has surpassed Teilhard in his reverence for the "stuff" of creation and of our incarnation. He was fascinated at the many forms of matter, culminating thus far in our genes and the brains that stem thereform. In the known {and knowable?) universe, they are unsurpassed in molecular complexity and reflective competence. Potentially linked together globally by a world-wide-web or internet of communications media, our brains constitute that form of reflective or "thinking" matter that Teilhard called "the NOO-SPHERE." It is concentric with the solid, liquid, gaseous and reproductive or "living" forms of matter, which Edward Suess described as Earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
In this excellent collection of readings, Paul Samson and David Pitt have largely vindicated Teilhard's vision of the NOOSPHERE and will have opened the eyes of many to the depths that are yet to be seen in the mysteries of the universe.
Rating: 5
Summary: A great contribution
Comment: This book has come to fill a gap and to present to students and lecturers an excellent tool for the handling of this subject in a serious and responsible way. I strongly recommend the book, particularly for ecology and environment courses in the social sciences.
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Title: The Earth's Biosphere: Evolution, Dynamics, and Change by Vaclav Smil ISBN: 0262194724 Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 21 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
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Title: Bringing the Biosphere Home : Learning to Perceive Global Environmental Change by Mitchell Thomashow ISBN: 0262700999 Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Ecological Identity: Becoming a Reflective Environmentalist by Mitchell Thomashow ISBN: 0262700638 Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 1996 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush by Kevin Phillips ISBN: 0670032646 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. by Thomas F. Homer-Dixon ISBN: 0691089795 Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr Pub. Date: 02 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $20.95 |
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