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Geo-philosophical Attributes of Anthropocene Concepts

Earth scientists analyse the planet and, to a certain degree, the world using discipline-specific methodologies. Discipline-specific notions like 'deep time', 'plate tectonics', 'planetary boundaries', 'tipping points', or 'climate change' have philosophical connotations, as the history of geology shows. Hence, given that geoscientific notions are performative, as the debate 'Anthropocene an epoch or an event' exemplifies, geoscientists should consider geo-philosophical perspectives of discipline-specific notions.

The ICS/IUGS recently settled in favour of an ‘Anthropocene is an event’ concept, emphasising established practices of geological stratigraphy. Neither the foundation of the 'Anthropocene is an epoch’ concept (stemming from Earth System Science), nor the proposed GSSP is challenged scientifically. The primary difference between both concepts of a ‘geological Now’, i.e., of the Anthropocene, is whether a qualitative change of the Earth System dynamics occurs and how it is described in discipline-specific notions.

All concepts (event, episode, epoch) of a geological ‘Anthropocene’, describe a quantitative change of characteristics of the Earth System. The epoch concept recognises (a) a quantitative change (the Great Acceleration) in the Earth System is causing a qualitative change, i.e., the dynamics shift out of the Holocene configuration, and (b) a specific 'Anthropos' (people with affluent lifestyles of a specific historical time). The event concept refers to humans, from people of palaeolithic times to contemporary people, engaged in intensifying sociocultural niche construction.

Hence, concepts of an ‘isochronous planetary stage shift’ or ‘cumulative diachronous regional alterations’ associate different worldviews regarding human agency and prowess. Hence, the IUGS’s choice is geo-philosophical, and not simply geoscientific.

Details

Author
Martin Bohle1
Institutionen
1Ronin Institute, Montclair, NJ, USA;International Association for Promoting Geoethics, Rome, Italy;Edgeryders, Brussels, Belgium
Veranstaltung
GeoSaxonia 2024
Datum
2024
DOI
10.48380/tvw6-rf93