Tonybee begins with a clear definition of the term biosphere. The biosphere is defined as being the layer of the earth's crust, water and air, which surrounds our planet. After this definition, he points out that our biosphere is very small compared to the diameter of the earth or other dimensions in our solar system or the universe. Up to now, it is the only habitable place for humans in this solar system, but over the past centuries man has played the most important role in the pollution and destruction of it. Therefore the search for other suitable biospheres in our solar system or in other solar systems has become of an increasing importance, but by today's scientific knowledge, it seems like this is the only biosphere in this solar system. Assuming that there are other habitable biospheres in the nearby solar systems or even in this one, the planets are too far away to be reached within the lifespan of a human being. And it is practically impossible to provide a ship with enough food for several generation

Even though man is the most powerful species of all, it still cannot survive on its own. Only man can be cruel and evil because he is the only one who is aware of his acts. The plant-animal relationship, for example, could be considered to be simply parasitic, because animals feed on plants without nourishing them in any way. But on the other hand, it can be called mutual because plants and animals work together for the same goal, that is to maintain the biosphere habitable for both of them. Therefore the progress and development have brought up both good and bad aspects. But this is an entirely human point of view. This might imply that man's ethical and moral standards are entirely human and therefore arbitrary and that they are irrelevant for the reality of life. But since man is not simply a spectator, but is aware of his surroundings and able to make ethical decisions, he is a part of the tree of life, and therefore his decisions and standards are a part of the biosphere itself and the total reality, which the biosphere is a part of.

Human beings are the only life-forms who fight each other to death. Thus, the development of life was at best parasitic and at worst predator-like. Over the time, man became man's own prey, which sometimes developed into extreme forms, such as slavery and cannibalism. Even though murder is being prosecuted in every country today, most sovereign countries have fought, or still fight, against each other in war. They expect their soldiers to kill the enemy soldiers and to risk being killed themselves. Even today, this sacrifice, the death for one's country, is considered to be an honourable thing. Here Toynbee asks the question whether the progress of life justifies the pain and suffering, and if man can be considered to be worthier than a tree, and a tree worthier than an amoeba.

Toynbee then summarizes the three elements of the biosphere and their relationship to each other. The biosphere consists of matter that did not come to life

Some common words found in the essay are:
Arnold Toynbee, Thomas Brown, Bible Tao-te-king, solar system, , Mutter Erde, spiritual world, development life, life consciousness, extinction species, entirely human, matter combined, toynbee concludes, destroy biosphere, power destroy,
Approximate Word count = 1338
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)