The Philosophy of the Biosphere
(some preliminary statements based on ideas of V.Vernadsky)
T.G. Sazykina, Russia
The Biosphere can be considered as the Meta-organism of the Earth. Living
matter forms its tissues and organs. As a whole, the biosphere is a transformer,
converting cosmic energy into biochemical energy of innumerable variety of
organic substances, forming living matter (Vernadsky, 1929, 1944). Due to long
evolution, the Biosphere reached the state of sustainability, where different species
are adapted to special functions, like organs in a human body. The material basis
for sustainability consist of a) self-reproduction of species; and b)recirculation of
chemical elements due to trophic loops, where wastes/biomass formed by some
biological species serve as resources for some other species.
At present, the human metapopulation, as a whole, forms the biomass about
109 tonnes of living matter, which is not the largest among other species. Beside
humans, the Biosphere consists of millions other species, which are important for
the metabolism of the Biosphere.
Analyzing the interactions of human metapopulation with the Biosphere, one
can compare the human race with “an embryo within mother uterus”.
The “mother” meta-organism of the Biosphere provides the human
organisms with all resources, deliberately prepared for the needs of human
metabolism. For example, an air would be a deadly mixture of gases without
previous treatment by Biosphere; such air would not contain any oxygen, instead it
would contain toxic concentrations of carbon dioxide, sulphur compounds, etc.
Water is also dead without treatment by living matter, which saturates water with
oxygen, removes phosphorus, sulphur, toxic elements, add dissolved organics, i.e.
make deliberate work of cleaning and conditioning water for human needs. Food
resources, consumed by humans, are totally produced by living organisms; up to
present, the human race is still unable to feed itself on chemically synthesized
organic substances.
In comparison with other biological species, the aggregated metabolism of
human race has some peculiarities, which may cause some problems for the
“mother”-Biosphere.
First of all, the human metapopulation consumes living resources and
produces wastes at much greater rates than other species, i.e. the human race has
high numbers of “resource consumption per unit of human biomass” and “waste
production per unit of biomass” ratios. Also, human metapopulation has a low
coefficient of recirculation their wastes.
Another potentially harmful peculiarity of human metapopulation –
enormous use of heavy chemical elements (Fe, Cr, Ni, Cd, U, etc.), which is not
normal for the Biosphere. Indeed, the living matter of the Biosphere consists of
various organic (carbon) compounds with other light elements (H,O, N, etc.);
heavy elements are utilized by organisms in micro-quantities. Light organic
composition of living matter makes possible an flexible re-circulation of various
organic forms; however, heavy elements in large masses are not able for rapid
recirculation, and also disturb the normal circulation of living matter that cause
damage to the metabolism of the Biosphere (including humans, which are part of
living matter of the Biosphere).
The philosophy of human metapopulation shall be the philosophy of the
Biosphere and be based on the following general statements:

The Biosphere is the world of organic (carbon) compounds, built
predominantly from light chemical elements. Being the part of the Biosphere, the
human race shall follow this main rule and deals in its activity with light elements,
avoiding heavy elements; also avoiding any chemical compounds which are not
easily re-circulated.

The carrying capacities of the Earth and the Biosphere are limited,
therefore, the total amount of resources consumed by human metapopulation, as
well as amount of wastes produced per unit of time shall be limited and correspond
to the capacity of the Biosphere to re-circulate them. The general understanding of
recirculation of elements as a mechanism for maintaining sustainability, is
important.

As a whole, the humans shall take as much care to the living matter of
the Biosphere, as to their own lungs, liver, kidney and other organs. General
understanding, that human species is a part of much larger Meta-organism of the
Biosphere is important.

The Biosphere selected a large variety of biological species, which
form a unique genetic reserve of life forms. Up to present, the humans are not able
to construct artificially any living organism from simple organic compounds;
therefore, humans shall at least do not destroy the existing unique creatures of life
made by long and deliberate work of Biosphere. From practical point of view, the
variety of life forms provides flexibility to the Biosphere, ensuring high capacity
for adaptation to any changes in environmental conditions on the Earth.
References
Vernadsky V.I. La biosphere. - Paris: Alcan, 1929. - XII, 232 p. - (Nouvelle
collection scientifique).
Vernadsky V.I. Problems of biogeochemistry. 2. The fundamental matterenergy difference between the living and the inert natural bodies of the
biosphere // Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. 1944. - Vol. 35. - P. 483-517.