Anthropocene

Earth System, geological, philosophical and political paradigm shifts

Bibliographic Data

ID4189162
AuthorsMark Maslin (0000-0001-9957-3463, University College London), Mark A Maslin, Su Lin Lewis (0000-0002-8066-6851, University of Leeds), Simon L Lewis
Year2015
Volume2
Issue2
Pages108-116
Publication date2015-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Anthropocene Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2053-0196 • E-ISSN: 2053-020X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/2053019615588791
OpenAlexW2282097899
LanguageEN
Citations received35
References cited39

The concept of the Anthropocene has created a profound paradigm shift within the scientific community that may well create equally important changes in philosophy and politics. There is general scientific agreement that human activity has been a geologically recent, yet profound, influence on the Earth System. The magnitude, variety and longevity of human-induced changes, to the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and atmosphere, suggests that we should refer to the present, not as within the Holocene Epoch (as it is currently formally referred to), but instead as within the Anthropocene Epoch. Hamilton (2015) argues that many commentators fail to acknowledge this paradigm shift and suggests the discussion of when the Anthropocene Epoch started is a distraction and irrelevant. Earth System scientists, such as ourselves, would argue that the evidence for the Anthropocene is already accepted and that the paradigm shift has already occurred. The current discussion has moved forward and is now centred on defining the start of the epoch using the fundamental principles of stratigraphy. We explain how geological time is divided up and the fundamental role of Global Stratotype Section and Points (GSSPs). We go beyond Hamilton's (2015) limited discussion and argue that the Anthropocene is creating paradigm shifts beyond the natural sciences. We also argue that there are multiple definitions of the Anthropocene and even if a formal definition of the Anthropocene Epoch is agreed by geoscientists, this would in no way invalidate other definitions or uses. It is the utility and wide appeal that makes the Anthropocene such an important concept

Anthropocene · Astrobiology · Biosphere · Earth science · Earth system science · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point · Hydrosphere · Paradigm shift · Political science · Politics · Computer Science · Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution · Global Energy and Sustainability Research · History · Law · Philosophy · Science and Climate Studies · Ecology · Geology · Paleontology