Will the next stage of evolution bring the dawn of planetary intelligence? Gaia Wakes by Topher McDougal makes the bold prediction that the planet itself may soon awaken as a unified, intelligent entity, a process accelerated by burgeoning artificial intelligence and ongoing environmental devastation.
Gaia Wakes is undoubtedly ambitious in its goals. Planetary intelligence is a concept first appearing in science fiction, viz., the classic 1961 novel Solaris by Stanisław Lem. But could this idea from science fiction become reality?
Topher McDougal makes his case using a variety of arguments, drawing upon evolutionary biology, economics, ecology, thermodynamics, and more. McDougal’s writing is academic yet accessible, including a comprehensive list of references at the back of the book.
The main flaw in Gaia Wakes is its lack of scientific rigor. For example, McDougal draws upon the maximum entropy principle, i.e., the second law of thermodynamics, to argue that greater complexity requires greater entropy, and planetary intelligence would embody the next generation of evolutionary complexity. However, the arguments are hand-waving at best and left this reader wanting a more rigorous treatment of the ideas presented.
Despite the shortcomings of McDougal’s arguments, Gaia Wakes is a well-polished and thought-provoking read. I certainly don’t regret the time invested in considering McDougal’s reasoning and letting my own imagination go wild with the concept of planetary intelligence.
Author Topher McDougal is Professor of Economic Development and Peacebuilding in the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. McDougal is also a contributor at the Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, and Americas Quarterly.
