Are we living in and collectively participating in a planetary nervous system? Does the Earth itself have a reflective capacity and are we all creative participants in guiding Earth’s destiny? Here we focus on the noosphere. The noosphere (from Greek nous, meaning “mind” or “intellect”) is a concept describing the planetary sphere of humanity’s cognitive, social, and technological activities, where ideas, communication, culture, and shared knowledge transcend individual minds to create a unified “planetary mind.” It represents the third major 
layer Earth, following the geosphere (inanimate matter) and the biosphere (biological life). As Swimme reports, “The Noosphere is the earth. It is the universe thinking through humans about its own birth and development.” Swimme and DeRaspe-Bolles challenge us to ask ourselves the question: How can I spend less time imposing my ideas about what’s right and wrong on others and replace it with how can I live so that others may live and be creative?
