Anthropocene Knowledge: Earth History in the Making

HPSC-X 100 — Fall 2018 — Themester

Days and Times
Monday/Wednesday: 9:00 am-12:30 pm, 2nd 8 weeks
Course Description

What is the Anthropocene we live in? How does it differ from the previous geological epochs? How dangerous has our environment, including the air we breathe, become? And to what extent have humans shaped life, development and the extinction of non-human organisms? This course provides an introduction to the notion of the Anthropocene—the idea that humankind is the main agent of planetary transformation—from a perspective that intertwines the sciences and humanities.                                                          

In this class we will read and comment on several texts that exemplify the heterogeneity of approaches and discourses related to the Anthropocene as a concrete, interdisciplinary topic at the intersection of the sciences and humanities. We will also discuss some artistic representations and objects to further stimulate in-class discussion.