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!
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.
