Abstract

The term ‘Anthropocene’ was proposed by the geological and natural sciences community to describe the current geological epoch and show the influence of human activity on the planetary ecosystem and its dynamics. This idea was taken up by Humanities scholars from a wide range of disciplines. It functions within the Humanities as a complex and multi-facetted notion that refers to the simultaneous occurrence of different environmental, technological and social transformations. This focus is particularly marked in the New Humanities, that call for renewed attention for the role of cultural, narrative and social issues in shaping collective responsibility for the future of the Earth. The exact meaning and empirical evidence supporting the Anthropocene however, are also met with criticism. We argue that the concept needs to be supplemented by more specific notions and practices, in order to avoid a growing sense of disciplinary segregation in the emergent areas of Humanities scholarship.