When thinking about the Anthropocene, it is impossible to
consider without mentioning humans—the Anthropos of the Anthropocene if you
will. Our short time on Earth has had a huge, albeit largely negative impact on
the environment that could possibly have unforeseen repercussions for the next millennia.
A weekly reading
titled “Learning How to Die in the Anthropocene” written by Roy Scranton
explores the idea of what it means to be human within the Anthropocene. Instead
of providing a strictly academic viewpoint, Scranton poses more philosophical
questions.
‘“What does it mean to live?” In the epoch of the
Anthropocene, the question of individual mortality — “What does my life
mean in the face of death?” — is universalized and framed in scales that boggle
the imagination. What does human existence mean against 100,000 years of
climate change? What does one life mean in the face of species death or the
collapse of global civilization? How do we make meaningful choices in the
shadow of our inevitable end?”
Highlighting
these questions probes the reader to really gauge how much of an impact we have
had on our planet. Scranton argues that we have already crossed the tipping
point. Even if humans were somehow able to miraculously eliminate all harmful
emissions and replenish over exhausted resources, it would not be enough. What’s
done is done, and here we are left to deal with the consequences, trying to
adapt—possibly for the rest of human (or another close human relative) existence.
Scranton believes
that any sort of answers to the above questions can be found in coming to terms
with the idea of death. Scranton parallels facing death to living in the
Anthropocene. In order to survive the Anthropocene, we need to acknowledge that
our life is irrelevant, unnecessary, futile and finite in the cycle of life and
death. So it goes living in the Anthropocene.
But if we know
that there is an inevitable end-no-change after this journey, should we even bother?
You should not live your life in fear of
death. Those who fear death, fear the unknown. Limiting your life experiences in
fear of something that you cannot avoid is not a way to live. We are here right
now, we have to ability to make changes and better our surrounding environment
right now. While we might not make any huge changes regarding the environment
for decades, centuries or possibly ever, every little bit helps and all we can
do right now is live in the moment and take things as they come.
Check out Roy Scranton’s article! Learning How to Die in the Anthropocene-
All good points, but the last paragraph really makes you think. Interesting read!
ReplyDeleteHi there, I'm the lone dissenter against Scranton. So I'm getting a vibe that says we should all calm down and move forward slowly. I like your interpretation much more than Scranton himself. Assuming he is right and we are buggered for this 'world;' I guess the ultimate question I have is, do you suppose it'll be a clean death? A smooth transition if we all just accept what's going on?
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great job quoting the reading we did in class and giving your opinion on the whole issue. I would have to agree when you wrote that we have to be okay with the idea of death before anything and how we shouldn't fear death.
ReplyDeleteYeee. I love your last paragraph. In order to think about environmental death, I think it's important to think about our perceptions of human death. If it's something inevitable, unknown and scary then it makes living so fearful. Transending that fear and DOING something is the only way we're going to improve the state of the environment.
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