From the Anthropocene to the Anthropo-Scene (original) (raw)
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perspectives The Anthropocene: conceptual and historical References Subject collections
2020
The human imprint on the global environment has now become so large and active that it rivals some of the great forces of Nature in its impact on the functioning of the Earth system. Although global-scale human influence on the environment has been recognized since the 1800s, the term Anthropocene, introduced about a decade ago, has only recently become widely, but informally, used in the global change research community. However, the term has yet to be accepted formally as a new geological epoch or era in Earth history. In this paper, we put forward the case for formally recognizing the Anthropocene as a new epoch in Earth history, arguing that the advent of the Industrial Revolution around 1800 provides a logical start date for the new epoch. We then explore recent trends in the evolution of the Anthropocene as humanity proceeds into the twenty-first century, focusing on the profound changes to our relationship with the rest of the living world and on early attempts and proposals for managing our relationship with the large geophysical cycles that drive the Earth's climate system.
Anthropocene: another academic invention?
Rendiconti Lincei, 2014
The concept of Anthropocene is examined in its various aspects from the meaning of the word to its relevance in scientific research. The etymology of the word is not consistent with the meaning of other geologic epochs. The basic assumption that Anthropocene is shaping the planet is challenged considering that natural processes are and will be operating on the planet and have the potential to obliterate any trace left by the human activity.
, backed up by an impressive amount of data, trace the history of our entry into the Anthropocene, an era characterised by the impact of human activities on the earth's physical and biological systems. These historians of science make a stand against the deliberately mystifying narrative that suggests that the major changes at play were practically unknown until recent decades. In doing so, they highlight the conflicts between asymmetric forces and interests and call for a repoliticisation of the history of this era.
International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, 2nd edition, 2020
After a brief account of the emergence of the Anthropocene idea in the Earth sciences, I consider the reception of the hypothesis by critical geographers. Having addressed the issue of who speaks for the Earth we turn to questions of how the Earth might speak or act through us – bringing us to the work of geographers who are beginning to experiment with new ways of thinking with and through planetary processes. This in turn opens up tricky questions about what close conversation with the geosciences might mean for the urgent task of decolonizing our thinking about the Earth.
The Anthropocene - The Earth in Our Hands
Refubium Freie Universität Berlin, 2020
An outstanding characteristic of the human species is its ability to think ahead into the future. However, such foresight is a major challenge if it is to go beyond one’s own personal environment. The future is therefore difficult to grasp – also depending on which temporal and spatial scales are adopted. ... Can a new scientific concept derived from the Earth system and geosciences, the Anthropocene, help here? Does it have the right name? Doesn’t it promote an apocalyptic, fatalistic attitude or, quite contrary isn’t it a gateway for positivistic, technocratic delusions? And how is a concept that has grown out of the "deep past", i.e. the history of the Earth, supposed to have any relevance for the future? Once again we seem to be trapped in our simplifying, dualistic "either-or" ideas, into which we want to categorize new concepts as fast as possible. The purpose of this article is to present the concept of the Anthropocene also with regard to its potential for a systemic sustainability analysis and the resulting responsibilities, commitments and design options. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Anthropocene concept is the challenge of abandoning dualisms in favor of a diverse spectrum of graduations, new approaches and new solution pathways. However, the different levels of the Anthropocene approach should be distinguished, so that it is always clear what we are exactly talking and debating about.
Current Science, 2018
Humans have become such dominant drivers of planetary changes that scientists are now debating the establishment of a new epoch: the Anthropocene. The concept of the Anthropocene has gained rapid visibility, quickly becoming a trademark of 21st century scientific literature. Interestingly, some studies claim that this idea can be traced back to the 19th and 20th centuries, others suggest that this concept is strongly associated with emerging multidisciplinary views of humans as drivers of global environmental change. In this article, we analyse bibliographical data to trace the key 20th century contributions towards the development of this concept in scientific literature. Using data from Web of Science, we identify five historical citation peaks and show that their associated key publications stem both from natural and social sciences, clearly highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of Anthropocene science. With the ongoing debate for a formal definition of the Anthropocene epoch, we argue that a geological definition aligned with the interdisciplinary development of the concept may be the best way to ensure that it remains relevant to the wider scientific community.
The theory of the Anthropocene: Inquiry into the ‘age of Anthropos’ between natural sciences and environmental humanities, 2018
The present MA research aims to analyze how the notion of ‘Anthropocene’ is implemented within the scientific and humanistic inquiry. More specifically, the research will attempt to shed light and critically reflect upon the basic elements that constitute the Anthropocene as a potentially rich epistemic concept and as a ‘narrative’ – i.e. a set of beliefs, logics and reasoning that portray the ‘age of man’. This aim will be achieved through a critical meta-analysis of the current and most relevant literature on the matter, from the most recent geological and stratigraphical studies conducted by the Anthropocene Working Group to the questions on meaning and value raised by the humanistic agenda. The methodology is based on a philosophical approach – that is, reflecting on the language, meaning and knowledge that the Anthropocene narrative comprise of. The research attempts to answer to the need of formulating a theoretically solid and well-equipped framework to face the current and unprecedent environmental challenges as a complement to the dominant managerial and business-centered approach. In conclusion, it shall aim to promote the idea of creating interdisciplinary educational programs where scientific and humanistic language are integrated.