The Anthropo-scene: A guide for the perplexed

• Published in: Social studies of science Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 117 - 142
• Main Author: Lorimer, Jamie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-02-2017; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Anthropocene; Anthropogenic factors; Fiction; History of medicine and histology; Human-environment relationship; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Parsing; Politics; Provocation; Science fiction; Science fiction & fantasy; Typology; Anthropocene; science fiction; Earth System Science; ontology
• ISSN: 0306-3127; 1460-3659
• DOI: 10.1177/0306312716671039

The scientific proposal that the Earth has entered a new epoch as a result of human activities – the Anthropocene – has catalysed a flurry of intellectual activity. I introduce and review the rich, inchoate and multi-disciplinary diversity of this Anthropo-scene. I identify five ways in which the concept of the Anthropocene has been mobilized: scientific question, intellectual zeitgeist, ideological provocation, new ontologies and science fiction. This typology offers an analytical framework for parsing this diversity, for understanding the interactions between different ways of thinking in the Anthropo-scene, and thus for comprehending elements of its particular and peculiar sociabilities. Here I deploy this framework to situate Earth Systems Science within the Anthropo-scene, exploring both the status afforded science in discussions of this new epoch, and the various ways in which the other means of engaging with the concept come to shape the conduct, content and politics of this scientific enquiry. In conclusion the paper reflects on the potential of the Anthropocene for new modes of academic praxis.