Earth

Daniela G. Camhy, Anja Lindbichler

PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY:THE CONCEPT OF SUNSTAINABILITY

EARTH – ABSTRACT

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The planet Earth is the fifth largest in the solar system and the third closest to the Sun. The

Earth has the highest density of any planet. Its diameter is more than 12,700 km and it has

existed for about 4.6 billion years. It is the home of all known living organisms.

The mass of the Earth is composed mainly of iron (32,1 %), oxygen (30,1 %), silicon (15,1 %),

magnesium (13,9 %), sulfur (2,9 %), nickel (1,8 %), calcium (1,5 %) and aluminum (1,4 %).

The remaining 1,2% are traces of other elements.

According to seismic measurements the structure of the Earth consists of mainly three

layers: the Earth’s core, the mantle and the crust. These layers are separated by seismic

discontinuity zones of each other. The Earth's crust and the uppermost part of the upper

mantle together form the so-called lithosphere. The lithosphere ranges between 50 and 100

km in thickness and is divided in so-called tectonic plates.

As the Sun and the other planets the Earth originated about 4.6 billion years ago from the

compression of the solar nebula. It is now generally accepted that during the first 100 million

years the Earth was exposed to an intense bombardment by asteroids. In contrast to the moon,

on Earth almost all impact craters have been removed by geological processes.

Because of the conversion of the kinetic energy of the asteroids on impact into heat during the

heavy bombardment and by the heat production of the radioactive decay the young Earth was

heated until it was mostly melted. As a result, there was a gravitational differentiation of the

Earth into a core and mantle. The heaviest elements, especially iron, sank into the center of the

planet, whereby heat was produced. Lighter elements, especially oxygen, silicon and aluminum,

rose up and formed silicate minerals, which mainly make up the rocks of the Earth's crust.

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4Nicolás de Lekuona, Untilted, 1935, Collection Siblings LekuonaSource: www.prometheud-bildarchiv.de

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Guiseppe Arcimboldo, Die Erde, 1570, Private PropertySource: www.prometheus-bildarchiv.de

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Discussion plan:Reality

What is reality? What is the difference between reality and truth?

Is there existence or reality beyond our

subjective perception?

How real is reality?

What is the difference between realness and reality?

What is the difference between

real and reality? What is the

difference between reality and illusion?

How important is reality for humans?

7Alfred Kubin, Unser aller Mutter Erde, Our Mother Earth 1901-1902, FreiburgSource: www.prometheus-bildarchiv.de

Clemens BrentanoSchwalbenwitz

Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch,Himmel und Erde sind sich gleich.

Spricht der Himmel: Werde!Da grünt und blüht die Erde!

Spricht die Erde: Sterbe!Da wird der Himmel ein lachender Erbe.

Sterne sah ich blinken und sinken,Den Mond in der Sonne ertrinken,

Die Sonne stieg in die Meere,Ohne daß sich ein Fünklein verlöre.

Feuer und Wasser hassen sich,Erde und Wasser umfassen sich,Luft und Feuer entzünden sich,Erde und Feuer ersticken sich,Erde und Luft umkühlen sich,

Luft und Wasser umspielen sich,Aber alles ist Liebe, Liebe, Liebe,

Und wenn sich alles empörte, verzehrte, verschlänge,

Daß gar nichts bliebe, bliebe doch LiebeDie Hülle, die Fülle, die Menge

Source: Leitner, Anton G.: „Feuer, Wasser, Luft & Erde. Die Poesie der Elemente“, Philipp Reclam jun., Stuttgart 2003, S. 157.

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MUSIC

Gustav MahlerDas Lied der Erde _Satz 4_ Von der SchönheitThe Song of the Earthhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGxZl_LpPv831 Oktober 2012

FILM

Yann Arthus-BertrandHOMEDocumentary, France 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&list=UUsO1AOwtvyPFWnxDNy9pMqw Am 26. August 2013

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Discussion plan.Climate justice

What do we owe future generations?

Do future generations have

rights?

Do future generations do have the right to a healthy environment?

How can emission allowances be shared?

: How do regulated entities acquire

emissions allowances?

Climate change- what prize will future

generations have to pay?

ARTICLEBrenner, HaraldDie Entstehung der ErdeThe Origin of the EarthDeutschland 2012 You find the article at:http://www.planet-wissen.de/natur_technik/weltall/entstehung_des_lebens/entstehung_der_erde.jsp31 October 2012

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Discussion plan:Beginning and end

What was at the beginning of the

universe?Can one imagine

the beginning of all beginnings?Has the universe

been here forever or did it

have a beginning?

Was the Big Bang the beginning of the

universe?

How can one imagine a spatial end

of the universe?What will

follow after the end of the universe?

What happened before earth has

evolved?