Replies

"Gaian perception connects us with the seamless nature of existence, and opens up a new approach to scientific research based on scientific institutions arising from scientists' personal, deeply subjective ecological experience. When the young scientist in training has sat on a mountain top, and has completed her first major assignment to 'think like a mountain', that is, to dwell and deeply identify with a mountain, mechanistic thinking will never take root in her mind. When she eventually goes out to practise her science in the world, she will be fully aware that every interconnected aspect of it has its own intrinsic value, irrespective of its usefulness to the economic activities of human beings."

Another element of this phenomena is gender-based -- namely, that the thinking process championed above is feminine, subjective, intuitive.

Reminded me of my thoughts a few days ago, on hearing a NASA press conference and hearing a high NASA official weeping and talking about his feelings.

I remarked to my wife that if, twenty years ago, a man in a highly responsible mgmt position acted this way in public, we would all judge him mentally ill. Now to blubber in public is a badge of honor, showing you're in touch with your feminine side.

All of that 'emotional justification" over rational thought has begun its inevitable pollution of the sciences -- and that's when we'll really see that all bad ideas have (bad) consequences.