Part 3/11:
The analogy is compelling: in early fetal development, the rapid proliferation of nerve cells creates the foundation for intelligence and creativity through connections. Similarly, the speaker foresaw humanity's future, where interconnected networks would facilitate a collective intelligence akin to a brain that spans the entire planet.
The Gaia Hypothesis and Humanity's Role
Around the same period, British chemist James Lovelock proposed the Gaia hypothesis, viewing Earth’s biosphere as a single living organism. This idea prompted reflection on humanity’s function within this planetary system. Is humankind a destructive force akin to a cancer, or could we be the brain of the planet?