Abstract

This Handbook is a collection of contributions of 100 researchers who have worked towards defining a prospective anthropology that integrates social, economic, cultural and political issues as well as environmental ones. This last aspect concerns the anthropological changes needed to ensure that our human adventure will be able to continue in the Anthropocene, as well as a study of the educational and political issues involved. Anthropocene is fast becoming a widely-used term, but thus far, there been no reference work explaining the thoughts of the greatest experts of the present day on this subject. A scientific and political concept as well as an ideological one, this complex term is explained by international experts as they reflect on scientific arguments taking place in earth system science, the social sciences and the humanities. This study also links up with the issues of the numerical and techno-scientific revolution. What these researchers from different disciplines have in common is anxiety about the future and how to prepare for it in the Anthropocene and also the identification of possible anthropological changes. This Handbook encourages readers to immerse themselves in reflections on the human adventure through descriptions of our differing heritages and the future that is in the process of being written.