Until around five hundred years ago, it was commonly accepted to perceive the Earth as a living entity. Since then, many authors, including Rudolf Steiner in the last century, have expressed this idea. Contemporary empirical scientific research also identifies characteristics and properties of organisms that are specific to life processes and cannot be reduced to inorganic principles. This section describes certain distinctive features of life—such as autonomy and balance, sensitivity, and self-activity—which we recognise not only in ourselves but also in the Earth. Life itself alters its environment to better serve its needs. For millennia, humans have shaped landscapes in ways that enhance their diversity and richness—a remarkable cultural achievement. The Earth is a highly developed organism that requires our assistance and cooperation.