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Understanding anthropogenic global change requires combining geo-ecological and socio-economic insights into borderline problems. The geological notion of an Anthropocene epoch is such a problem. The Anthropocene epoch proposal, made by Earth system scientists more than two decades ago, triggered debates in many scholarly disciplines, and since 2009 geological stratigraphers have sought to find consensus about Anthropocene as part of the Geological Time Scale. Recently the discussion has focussed on three geological concepts (events, epoch, episode) that constitute differently designed geo-societal borderline problems. Although these concepts have comparable scientific foundations, interpreting the underpinning findings and consequent insights raises differences. This essay outlines how specifying anthropogenic global change as a suite of geological events (or an episode) within the Holocene or as a novel epoch following the Holocene, respectively, applies different geo-philosophical perspectives and, therefore, has distinct societal ramifications. These concepts differ substantially in how to situate geosciences in culture and history. Renn’s theory of evolution of knowledge provides a methodological framework to examine such differences, for example, in their potential for societal action. The concept of events of anthropogenic global change might favour cooperation among different disciplines. The concept of an epoch, the Anthropocene, seems helpful in causing transformative societal action. Both outcomes are beneficial. Having to choose between them is unfortunate. Therefore, it is explored how both concepts could be applied by distinguishing the geological past from the present, designing the geo-societal borderline problem such that a (geological) Anthropocene would also mark a philosophical paradigm shift consolidating the epistemic status of geological sciences. |
