Abstract

The 'Anthropocene' is now being used by multiple communities and in a

number of different ways to understand the changing dynamics between human
and environment as a conceptual framework. I will argue in this paper that the
idea of an Anthropos, as a global geological power threatens to obscure the
diversity and disparities in humanity's real circumstances and does not do
justice to the diversity of local and regional contexts within the global context.

In my project I aim to contextualise the Anthropocene problematic in a

localized, more socialised and heavily context-dependent interpretation. I will
do so by selecting 3 domains of the Anthropocene problematic which vary in
spatial and temporal scale and systems of governances as well as
interdependencies that’ll allow a framework to function. I will select 3 out of
the many issues that have allowed human activity to severely impact the earth’s
biosphere which define the Anthropocene epoch namely, climate change and
global warming, ocean acidification, urbanization, nitrogen cycle disruption,
wild fires etc.
Nitrogen cycle has been negatively impacted by human activity which threatens
food security and there have been very limited efforts to deal with it so far on a
global governance scale.
Ocean acidification.
Urbanization is a socio-economically driven process highlight class inequality
and it has huge impacts on all socio-ecological mechanisms that operate on our
planet and a global governance system is needed to actively work on above
mentioned issues, most of which unfairly affect the poor. I chose these issues
because they are all connected within the Anthropocene domain and to an extent
interdependent on one another

My thesis statement becomes: “In my project, I will systematically re-analyse

and discuss the implications of the lens through which the governance of social-
ecological systems is viewed currently in regards to the Anthropocene
problematic with an emphasis on multi-level governmental organisations and
their functioning. I aim to potentially offer up a redefinition their systems of
governance and policies.”.

I aim to revisit many writers on the Anthropocene problematic such as Noam

Chomsky, Donna Haraway, I have re read texts by Noam chomskys specifically
his insights on the need for democracy in the era of Anthropocene we live in
which is a very significant threat we need to overcome before we even begin
thinking about a global governance system. I have also done extensive external
readings for my project since this is a research based project, like “Navigating
the Anthropocene: improving earth system governance” by Frank
Biermann,“The nitrogen cascade’ by Galloway, Erisman, Howarth and
Cowling as well as, “ Climate change, agriculture and food security” by
Erisman, Vermeulen on their governance approaches, “Urbanization and the
wealth of nations” by D.E Bloom, “Urban land teleconnections and
sustainability” by K.C Seto, “Reconfiguring environmental governance:
towards a politics of scales and networks” by H. Bulkeley as well as some
other texts by above mentioned writers.

My project is relevant to the course PHIL 375: Philosophy in the Anthropocene,

as it will allow us to see the notion of Anthropocene in light of social
inequalities and regional differences and analyse problems related to the
Anthropocene issues mentioned above in a more focused and localised context
of global understanding and governance both academically and politically.

Hopefully I aim to develop a conceptual framework that will allow us to re-

focus our efforts in more innovative ways to transition out of the Anthropocene
and into a more sustainable era and am able to effectively contribute to the
philosophical discussion on the Anthropocene, currently underway in scholarly
contexts globally.