Barry Commoner – Ecosphere and Technosphere

Barry Commoner Memorial Program Ecosphere and Technosphere

Music; Ambience: Dawn Chorus, Pantanal track #15

JM: Biologist Barry Commoner was one of the founders of modern ecology and a tireless advocate for the environment. Here’s an excerpt from an interview I did with him in 1990. He speaks about the balance between the ecosphere and the technosphere. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

BC: “The ecosphere is made up of the thin skin of the Earth the air, the water, the soil. That’s where all living things are found and we’re part of that. But unlike every other living thing, we produce thing that otherwise do not occur in nature. We have created, by technical means, another area in which we live and that I call the technosphere. We live in both of them. Since everything we do depends on the stability of the ecosphere, if we create methods of production that destroy the ecosphere then we’re in trouble. Now at the other extreme, if you say “All that matters is the ecosphere. All living things are an essential part of it and they all have the same rights. And no human beings have any right to do anything different than other living things.” In other words, we would then have to live by our wits in the woods so-to-speak. Then I think you destroy something which I regard to be of great value. Namely, the civilization that people have produced. So, what you need to do is consider both the ecosphere and the technosphere and the way in which they relate to each other.

JM: This program is in memory of Barry Commoner, who passed away in September, 2012, at the age of 95. Pulse of the Planet is made possible by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.

Barry Commoner - Ecosphere and Technosphere

The late Barry Commoner shares his insights on balancing science and nature.
Air Date:11/05/2012
Scientist:
Transcript:

Barry Commoner Memorial Program Ecosphere and Technosphere

Music; Ambience: Dawn Chorus, Pantanal track #15

JM: Biologist Barry Commoner was one of the founders of modern ecology and a tireless advocate for the environment. Here's an excerpt from an interview I did with him in 1990. He speaks about the balance between the ecosphere and the technosphere. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

BC: "The ecosphere is made up of the thin skin of the Earth the air, the water, the soil. That's where all living things are found and we're part of that. But unlike every other living thing, we produce thing that otherwise do not occur in nature. We have created, by technical means, another area in which we live and that I call the technosphere. We live in both of them. Since everything we do depends on the stability of the ecosphere, if we create methods of production that destroy the ecosphere then we're in trouble. Now at the other extreme, if you say "All that matters is the ecosphere. All living things are an essential part of it and they all have the same rights. And no human beings have any right to do anything different than other living things." In other words, we would then have to live by our wits in the woods so-to-speak. Then I think you destroy something which I regard to be of great value. Namely, the civilization that people have produced. So, what you need to do is consider both the ecosphere and the technosphere and the way in which they relate to each other.

JM: This program is in memory of Barry Commoner, who passed away in September, 2012, at the age of 95. Pulse of the Planet is made possible by the National Science Foundation. I'm Jim Metzner.