Naming our Epoch

From your own perspective, the most appropriate name for our current epoch is:

Group of answer choices

The Anthropocene

The Holocene

The Ecozoic

Something else (explain below).

Stop dissecting language and get on with taking action already!

 

Question 21 pts

In 2-3 sentences, explain the reasoning behind your choice above.

Overview

You will need to use the materials below to complete the survey and pass the comprehension quiz later this module.

Key Concepts

· Anthropocene

· Anthropocentrism

· Biocentrism

· Ecozoic

The Anthropocene

So powerful are recent global transformations, that many are asserting that we have entered an entirely new epoch defined by human impact on a geological scale (not archaeological - geological!) The name for this age of humans is the Anthropocene and the concept is an example of how massive changes like global warming are shifting the way us humans think about our relationships with the entire planet. Where the start of the Holocene epoch 11,700 years ago is defined by the end of the last ice major age, the Anthropocene is defined by human impact. Millions of years from now (assuming humans are still around!), future geologists digging down into the earth will find a distinct human-produced layer all over the planet, though what exactly defines it is still up for discussion: nuclear radiation, carbon increase and plastic are all possibilities. From a philosophical and ecological perspective, though, we are also concerned with what the consequences might be of naming a whole era after ourselves.

This short video "The Anthropocene: Humans Have Officially Created a New Era" will give you a basic overview of the concept. As you watch take note of:

· What is distinctive about our current era?

· What kinds of changes are seen as worthy of a new epoch?

· What event is given as the beginning of the Anthropocene?

And same questions, but a slightly different format via the movie trailer for a brand new documentary called Anthropocene: The Human Epoch:

Of course, we're not going to stop with a simple definition of the Anthropocene! This week's reading, “On the Poverty of Our Nomenclature,” is a chapter by Eileen Crist analyzing the kind of language and assumptions exemplified in the videos above (though she doesn't reference these ones specifically). You can download a PDF of it here:  Crist 2015 Anthropocene.pdf  Download Crist 2015 Anthropocene.pdf

Crist analyzes what she calls the discourse of the anthropocene. In this case "discourse" doesn't just mean looking at speech, but a how a whole constellation of words, language and thought powerfully structure action. Or, in the case of climate change - inaction. And on this count, she finds the word Anthropocene incredibly problematic.

As you read, you need to pay attention to where Crist is describing the anthropocene discourse and when she is critiquing it. In addition, the distinction between two interrelated environmental ethics concepts will be helpful this week:

Biocentrism - assuming that all living things have intrinsic value (or value in themselves, not only because they are useful to humans)

Anthropocentrism - assuming that humans (both current and future) are the central or most important form of life.  

So when Crist says that the new era's name is "anthropocentric" she means that it positions humans as THE most important entities on earth. From her perspective such anthropocentric thinking presents a huge danger to to other species and to ourselves. To simplify, this self-reinforcing (and destructive) logic might look something like this:

Humans are separate from and rule over nature --> This makes humans are most powerful force on earth --> So humans matter the most in environmental issues/decisions --> because we only consider ourselves,  humans continue act separate from and rule over nature --> repeat! [and destroy everything else as you go...]

To help guide your reading consider the questions below and be sure you can answer them before completing this module's assignments. Feel free to post in the Q&A board, ask your discussion group or, reach out to me, your instructor, if you're unsure about any of the content.

· What is the "Anthropocene"?

· What does the concept include? 

· Who and what might be excluded?

· Why does Crist think the Anthropocene concept is itself a problem?

· What alternative name does Crist propose for the current era? Do you think changing the name is enough?

References

Crist, Eileen. 2013. "On the Poverty of Our Nomenclature." Environmental Humanities 3: 129-147.

Joseph R. Desjardins. 2013. Environmental Ethics: an introduction to environmental philosophy 5th Edition. Wadsworth.