Original scientific paper
Published in: Holistic Approach Environ. 3(2013) 1, pp. 3 – 14
Paper reference number: HAE-48
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HOLISM IN DEEP ECOLOGY AND GAIA-THEORY: A CONTRIBUTION TO ECO-GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE, A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE OR A NEW AGE STREAM?

Marina Katinić^*

^* Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia

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ABSTRACT

In the second half of 20th century three approaches to phenomenon of life and environmental crisis relying to a holistic method arose: ecosophy that gave impetus to the deep ecology movement, Gaia-hypothesis that evolved into an acceptable scientific theory and gaianism as one of the New Age spiritual streams. All of this approaches have had different methodologies, but came to analogous conclusions on relation man-ecosystem. The goal of the paper is to introduce the three approaches’ theoretical and practical outcomes, compare them and evaluate their potency to strengthen responsibility of man towards Earth ecosystem which is a self-regulating whole which humanity is part of.

Keywords: holism, ecosophy, deep ecology movement, gaia-theory, new age, responsibility
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