In Gaia's Gift, Anne Primavesi asks that we complete the ideological revolution concerning human importance which was set in motion by Copernicus and developed by theorists such as Charles Darwin. This radical thinking of Copernicus and Darwin challenged the traditional notion that humans had a god-given centrality within the universe and within the Earth's history. Yet, as we continue to exploit the Earth's natural resources and species, it seems that we remain wedded to the theological assumption that these are there for our sole use and benefit.
Drawing on James Lovelock's Gaia theory-the understanding of the Earth as a living organism-Gaia's Gift, raises the question of our proper place within the universe and turns decisively towards an understanding of ourselves as dependent on, rather than in control of, the whole Earth community.