Anthropology in the Anthropocene An Earthed Theory for Our Extended Present

In this book, anthropologist and geologist Christoph Antweiler shows that geology is a special, namely historical, natural science and is therefore relevant for a historically informed anthropology. He argues that we do not only need a geologically informed cultural anthropology, but conversely also an anthropologically oriented geology. A comprehensive geology must include material human culture as a fundamental geological phenomenon. In relation to cultural anthropology, the author discusses the challenge the Anthropocene poses for cultural anthropology as a traditionally micro-oriented social science. The book discusses where the blind spots lie in the highly interdisciplinary discussion. Common narratives are critically scrutinized. The author argues for the need for a new discipline: geoanthropology.

Chapter 1. Humans Make Earth History – New Earth and New Anthropology.- Chapter 2. Cultural Resonance – Loss of Orientation, Fears, and Hope.- Chapter 3. End-Time Stories – Mostly Dramatic Framings.- Chapter 4. Critique – Strengths and Weaknesses of Anthropocene Thinking.- Chapter 5. Anthropocene Anthropology – Contributions and Opportunities.- Chapter 6. Conditio Humana – the Geologization of Culture.-Chapter 7. Human Niche Construction – Building Blocks for Synthesis.- Conclusion.

Christoph Antweiler is a cultural anthropologist with an expertise in geology and currently Senior Professor at the Institute of Oriental and Asian Studies at the University of Bonn, Germany. His main theoretical interests are socio-cultural evolution, human universals and vernacular cosmopolitanism. His main research region is Southeast Asia. He is involved in the Excellence Cluster Bonn Center of Dependency and Slavery Studies and a member of the Academia Europaea, London.