The first idea comes from Systems Theory and the second idea is called The Gaia Hypothesis. Systems Theory sees our world in terms of 'systems', where each system is a 'whole' that is more than the sum of its parts, but also itself a 'part' of larger systems. An organ is on one level a whole in itself, but on another, it is a part of a system at the level of an individual person. A family and a community can both be seen as 'systems' where the 'parts' are people. The Gaia Hypothesis takes this idea further and applies it to the whole planet.
Living systems have a tendency to keep themselves in balance but also to adapt and evolve over time.
Scientists have found that the earth also has these tendencies, with feedback mechanisms to 'keep in balance' the temperature and oxygen levels of the atmosphere, just as our bodies maintain the temperature and oxygen levels in our arteries. The Gaia Hypothesis is stating that the earth is alive and that we are part of it. This is something that many cultures have known for centuries. Facing the scale of social and ecological crisis in our world can leave us feeling numbed, overwhelmed and powerless. Yet there is often little place for such feelings in conventional politics or in our society at large.