Ethics in the Anthropocene: A research agenda

Schmidt, Jeremy J.; Brown, Peter G.; Orr, Christopher J.

Abstract

The quantitative evidence of human impacts on the Earth System has produced new calls for planetary stewardship. At the same time, numerous scholars reject modern social sciences by claiming that the Anthropocene fundamentally changes the human condition. However, we cannot simply dismiss all previous forms of cultural learning or transmission. Instead, this paper examines ethics in the Anthropocene, and specifically what it implies for: (1) reassessing our normative systems in view of human impacts on the Earth System; (2) identifying novel ethical problems in the Anthropocene; and (3) repositioning traditional issues concerning fairness and environmental ethics. It concludes by situating ethics within the challenge of connecting multiple social worlds to a shared view of human and Earth histories and calls for renewed engagement with ethics.

Citation

Schmidt, J. J., Brown, P. G., & Orr, C. J. (2016). Ethics in the Anthropocene: A research agenda. Anthropocene Review, 3(3), 188-200. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019616662052

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jul 27, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2017
• Journal: Anthropocene Review
• Print ISSN: 2053-0196
• Electronic ISSN: 2053-020X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 188-200
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019616662052