The Anthropocene

The Anthropocene is a term that is often used to define a planetary epoch in which the human species has become a dominant force, shaping Earth’s bio-geophysical composition and processes [1]. The term Anthropocene, meaning ‘The Human Epoch’ in Greek, was first used by Eugene F. Stoermer; a researcher in Diatoms. The term was invented when researching acidifying waters and was later on used to indicate other Anthropogenic influences [2].

Next to acidification of waters, human influence could be measured in factors like nuclear fallout particles, that could be carried by wind across the world. But also organic material like chicken bones, that are resulting from being helt and eaten on a massive scale ,worldwide. Other elements include plastic pollution, aluminium, concrete particles and high levels of nitrogen and phosphate within soils, that derived from artificial fertilizers [3].

In 2014 the International Geological Congress located in Cape Town officially recommended stating the Anthropocene as an epoch [4], but since the Anthropocene isn’t officially internationally recognized, it is considered by many as a theory that will define the future human influence on our own ecosystem, an epoch that will follow the Holocene; which is the current epoch which started after the last glacial period, 11,650 cal years ago [5].

According to a study by Simon Lewis and Mark Maslin in 2012, the first signs of the Anthropocene began around 1610 when the decreasing population of the Americas after the European conquest stimulated an increase in reforestation, causing on the little ice age [6].

Other terms that define the same anthropos caused phenomenon is Capitalocene and Plantationocene:
 The Capitalocene, named after the capitalism which, Donna Haraway suggests, is the main cause of consumerism, materialism and monopoly powers, that increases the environmental costs and the humans footprint on our planet. 
 The Plantationocene calls more attention to monoculture and to the ecological and economic heritages of imperialism including race-based hierarchies, and discrimination among diverse peoples based on gender, sexual orientation, class, and ace.

Both these terms are used to give a more in-depth reason to how humans have become masters of their own faith and the continuing livability of the earth.

“Nobody lives everywhere; everybody lives somewhere. Nothing is connected to everything; everything is connected to something. [7]” 
Anthropocentrism is a term used to indicate the way humans see themself within their surroundings, which is human-centered. With Anthropocentrism the anthropos/human states himself above all other organisms and therefor sating that humans have more inherent value than other organisms. Its counterpart is Biocentrism, where humans are valued equal to other organisms. Ecocentrism takes this term to a higher level, also taking nonliving components into account. It states that humans and other organisms are part of an entire ecosystem in which the terrain, natural forces like storms and planetary effects are all part of.

This is also mentioned by the Gaia Theory [8]. Named after the greek goddess and personification of the Earth, Gaia. The Gaia Theory proposes that every living organism interacts with their inorganic surroundings, which form a self-regulating complex system.

Donna Haraway said “It’s about order out of disorder. It’s about homeostatic mechanisms in autopoietic systems.” [7]. Meaning that it’s a mechanism that constantly searches for balance within a system that keeps trying to renews itself. Making the Earth a constantly renewable balance; an order out of disorder. According to Donna Haraway, after the Anthropocene, there will be an entire new epoch. One in which humans have to deal with that their previous possessors have effected; called the Cthulucene. She states that this process, a process of reworlding, is more like a process of composting that one of being post-human [6].

Symbiosis (Greek for ‘living together’) , is a biological term for a long term relationship between two different biological organisms. This for instance occurs as the clownfish and a sea anemone live closely together. They benefit from each other presence; when one species thrives, the other one will follow. The same goes for when one organism is disrupted, the other organism will react negatively.

The same counts for the Symbiocene, an epoch that should follow the Cthulucene, in which we return to our natural connection towards our surroundings. Benefiting from our ecosystem, while contributing in the same way. Thriving together.

“Everybody lives everywhere; nobody lives somewhere. Everything is connected to everything; nobody is connected to something.”

Sources:

[1] Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2020, from http://www.anthroencyclopedia.com/

[2] Haraway, D. (2014, May 9). Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble - Donna Haraway. Retrieved October 11, 2020, from http://www.opentranscripts.org/transcript/anthropocene-capitalocene-chthulucene/

[3] Carrington, D. (2016, August 29). The Anthropocene epoch: Scientists declare dawn of human-influenced age. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/29/declare-anthropocene-epoch-experts-urge-geological-congress-human-impact-earth

[4] Holocene. (2020, October 11). Retrieved October 11, 2020, from http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene

[5] Frame 29.2 – Perspectives on the Anthropocene: Frame – Journal of Literary Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2020, from https://www.tijdschriftframe.nl/portfolio/item/frame-29-2-perspectives-on-the-anthropocene/

[6] Parsons, A. (2019, April 25). Course Compendium. Retrieved October 11, 2020, from http://compendium.kosawese.net/term/anthropocene-capitalocene-chthulucene/

[7] Haraway, D. (2016). Tentacular Thinking: Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene. Retrieved October 11, 2020, from https://www.e-flux.com/journal/75/67125/tentacular-thinking-anthropocene-capitalocene-chthulucene/

[8] Gaia hypothesis. (2020, October 10). Retrieved October 11, 2020, from http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis

Haraway, D. J. (2016). Staying with the trouble: Making kin in the Chthulucene. Durham (N.C.): Duke University Press.

Tsing, A. L. (2015). The mushroom at the end of the world: On the possibility of life in capitalist ruins. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
 Tsing, A. L., Swanson, H. A., Gan, E., & Bubandt, N. (2017). Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet: Ghosts and Monsters of the Anthropocene. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.