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The Anthropocene exit: Reconciling discursive tensions on the new geological epoch

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  • Heikkurinen, Pasi
  • Ruuska, Toni
  • Wilén, Kristoffer
  • Ulvila, Marko

Abstract

This article aims to reconcile tensions around ‘the Anthropocene’ by reviewing and integrating the discourses on the new geological epoch. It is argued that the Anthropocene discourses based on natural and social sciences are complementary. The anthropogenic epoch detrimental to the Earth's biodiversity, however, does not reduce to any discourse. Instead of calling to reject discourses that do not accept this limitation of language or alternatively do not show sensitivity to contextual matters, the article demonstrates how different Anthropocene discourses can be combined. The study concludes that in order to exit the epoch, anthropocentric discourses on the Anthropocene remain ineffective unless complemented by non-anthropocentric discourses.

Suggested Citation

  • Heikkurinen, Pasi & Ruuska, Toni & Wilén, Kristoffer & Ulvila, Marko, 2019. "The Anthropocene exit: Reconciling discursive tensions on the new geological epoch," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:164:y:2019:i:c:35
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.106369
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    Cited by:

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    2. J. Mohorčich, 2020. "Energy Intensity and Human Mobility after the Anthropocene," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Baum, Chad M. & Low, Sean, 2023. "Beyond climate stabilization: Exploring the perceived sociotechnical co-impacts of carbon removal and solar geoengineering," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    4. Pasi Heikkurinen & Toni Ruuska & Anu Valtonen & Outi Rantala, 2020. "Time and Mobility after the Anthropocene," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-5, June.
    5. Rachel Mazac & Hanna L. Tuomisto, 2020. "The Post-Anthropocene Diet: Navigating Future Diets for Sustainable Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Toni Ruuska & Pasi Heikkurinen & Kristoffer Wilén, 2020. "Domination, Power, Supremacy: Confronting Anthropolitics with Ecological Realism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, March.

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