The Concept of the Anthropocene

By Yadvinder S. Malhi. 2017

202 citations recorded by the source corpus.

The Anthropocene, the concept that the Earth has moved into a novel geological epoch characterized by human domination of the planetary system, is an increasingly prevalent framework for debate both in academia and as a wider cultural and policy zeitgeist. This article reviews the proliferation of literature surrounding this concept. It explores the origins and history of the concept, as well as the arguments surrounding its geological formalization and starting date ranging from the Pleistocene to the twentieth century. It examines perspectives and critiques of the concept from the Earth system sciences, ecological and geological sciences, and social sciences and humanities, exploring its role as a cultural zeitgeist and ideological provocation. I conclude by offering a personal perspective on the concept of the Anthropocene and its utility.

Subfields: Literature and Literary Theory, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Sociology and Political Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/6b8fa3bc144925c2fa659e6d9c876786b499da2f

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In Nature and Landscape Conservation

1. M. Cabeza
2. Atte Moilanen

Citations in the corpus

• Bats as potential suppressors of multiple agricultural pests: A case study from Madagascar (2019, background): “The pervasive conversion of forests for food production is a conspicuous symbol of the Anthropocene (Malhi, 2017).”
• Three Decades of Climate Mitigation: Why Haven't We Bent the Global Emissions Curve? (2021, unknown): “The Anthropocene is a grand story of humanity’s long-lasting imprint on this planet (11).”