The biological aspect of Capitalism
Gaia is a super-organism embracing all life on earth. Gaia
is the joint manifestation of life on earth and behaves like any other living
creature. It is controlled by its wisdom (WOB). Gaia
involves the Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and soil. Like any
other living creature, Gaia has an input and output,
and maintains an equilibrium (homeostasis).
The input is solar energy and cosmic dust which falls through
the atmosphere. Gaia’s output, or graveyard, is the earth
crust. Solar energy is converted to organic matter which is transferred through
multiple food chains. Dying organisms and organic matter find their way
to the oceans where they sink and join the earth crust as dead rocks (graveyard).
In other words only life is capable to bind the organic matter which was initiated
by the solar energy and later on becomes a dead rock. Life is the
sole grave digger on earth and controls Gaia’s output.
Ever since it was formed Gaia maintained a steady state in which
input = output. Actually Gaia evolved maintaining a steady state.
Yet it’s peaceful existence was disrupted by the industrial revolution
(18th century), which gained access to a new energy source
(fossils). The total energy input rose and input > output.
The rapid rise in the production of fossil energy caught Gaia unprepared.
In order to establish a new steady state Gaia ought to raise its output, and
mobilize more grave diggers.
First Gaia raises its temperature. Ice melts and ocean surfaces increase.
Since life generally occupies the surfaces, new live forms find their place in
the sun. Species with better grave-digging capabilities, are promoted, and the
less efficient eliminated. Species variety declines. The rising temperature
raises the metabolic rate of each individual, and it binds more organic matter.
The overall turnover of food chains rises so that more live forms die. Gaia’s
grave-digging properties improve (and output rises).
The neo-liberal capitalism thrives on growth and ever rising
energy production, which raises Gaia’s input. Yet our super-organism is determined
to survive the folly of the human race. It is capable to raise its temperature
(fever) until we all end in Gaia’s grave yard. Leaving behind insects and
microorganisms which are less sensitive to heat and lack any intention to
burn fossil energy. Then output will match input and Gaia’s steady state
finally restored.
There is a simple moral to this story. Gaia is extremely complex. Nevertheless
you don’t have to untangle (simplify) its complexity. It
suffices if you monitor (control) it’s inputs and outputs. Which
applies to any living organism maintaining steady state.