The Anthropocene event in social theory: On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently

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The Anthropocene event in social theory : On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently. / Blok, Anders; Jensen, Casper Bruun.

I: The Sociological Review, Bind 67, Nr. 6, 2019, s. 1195-1211.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

Harvard

Blok, A & Jensen, CB 2019, 'The Anthropocene event in social theory: On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently', The Sociological Review, bind 67, nr. 6, s. 1195-1211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026119845551

APA

Blok, A., & Jensen, C. B. (2019). The Anthropocene event in social theory: On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently. The Sociological Review, 67(6), 1195-1211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026119845551

Vancouver

Blok A, Jensen CB. The Anthropocene event in social theory: On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently. The Sociological Review. 2019;67(6):1195-1211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026119845551

Author

Blok, Anders ; Jensen, Casper Bruun. / The Anthropocene event in social theory : On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently. I: The Sociological Review. 2019 ; Bind 67, Nr. 6. s. 1195-1211.

Bibtex

@article{6d91db649fe04c90922fe952aada9c7e,
title = "The Anthropocene event in social theory: On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently",
abstract = "Signalling that {\textquoteleft}humanity{\textquoteright} has radically changed the Earth{\textquoteright}s environmental parameters, the Anthropocene currently generates debate across the socio-cultural sciences. In this context, neo-Marxist and new materialist approaches stand out for the way they oblige social theory to catch up with new material realities. We share the conviction that the Anthropocene might constitute a genuine event for social theory and practice. However, we argue that the search for alternative ways of problematizing and {\textquoteleft}dramatizing{\textquoteright} our eco-political predicament confronts these approaches with unresolved issues of scientism and economic totalization. Looking for another path, we turn to Science and Technology Studies (STS), and especially Actor-Network Theory (ANT). We relay the long-standing focus on nonhuman agency characteristic of this field via Isabelle Stengers{\textquoteright} argument that we must {\textquoteleft}accept{\textquoteright} the reality of Gaia{\textquoteright}s intrusion into collective historicity. The challenge posed by Stengers, we suggest, requires the development of an art of immanent attention to the politics of varied matters as they unfold across diverse ecologies of practice. Extending further than the present preoccupations of Euro-American social theory, other areas within and across environmental history, activism and politics offer sites of resistance as well as experimentation whose conceptual possibilities and practical efficacies have yet to be explored. Slowing down theory sufficiently to learn from these multiple sites, we argue, is the starting point for an approach more adequate to the problems posed by the Anthropocene event.",
keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, Anthropocene,, Gaia, neo-Marxism, new materialism, Science and Technology Studies (STS)",
author = "Anders Blok and Jensen, {Casper Bruun}",
year = "2019",
doi = "10.1177/0038026119845551",
language = "English",
volume = "67",
pages = "1195--1211",
journal = "Sociological Review",
issn = "0038-0261",
publisher = "Sage Journals",
number = "6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Anthropocene event in social theory

T2 - On ways of problematizing nonhuman materiality differently

AU - Blok, Anders

AU - Jensen, Casper Bruun

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Signalling that ‘humanity’ has radically changed the Earth’s environmental parameters, the Anthropocene currently generates debate across the socio-cultural sciences. In this context, neo-Marxist and new materialist approaches stand out for the way they oblige social theory to catch up with new material realities. We share the conviction that the Anthropocene might constitute a genuine event for social theory and practice. However, we argue that the search for alternative ways of problematizing and ‘dramatizing’ our eco-political predicament confronts these approaches with unresolved issues of scientism and economic totalization. Looking for another path, we turn to Science and Technology Studies (STS), and especially Actor-Network Theory (ANT). We relay the long-standing focus on nonhuman agency characteristic of this field via Isabelle Stengers’ argument that we must ‘accept’ the reality of Gaia’s intrusion into collective historicity. The challenge posed by Stengers, we suggest, requires the development of an art of immanent attention to the politics of varied matters as they unfold across diverse ecologies of practice. Extending further than the present preoccupations of Euro-American social theory, other areas within and across environmental history, activism and politics offer sites of resistance as well as experimentation whose conceptual possibilities and practical efficacies have yet to be explored. Slowing down theory sufficiently to learn from these multiple sites, we argue, is the starting point for an approach more adequate to the problems posed by the Anthropocene event.

AB - Signalling that ‘humanity’ has radically changed the Earth’s environmental parameters, the Anthropocene currently generates debate across the socio-cultural sciences. In this context, neo-Marxist and new materialist approaches stand out for the way they oblige social theory to catch up with new material realities. We share the conviction that the Anthropocene might constitute a genuine event for social theory and practice. However, we argue that the search for alternative ways of problematizing and ‘dramatizing’ our eco-political predicament confronts these approaches with unresolved issues of scientism and economic totalization. Looking for another path, we turn to Science and Technology Studies (STS), and especially Actor-Network Theory (ANT). We relay the long-standing focus on nonhuman agency characteristic of this field via Isabelle Stengers’ argument that we must ‘accept’ the reality of Gaia’s intrusion into collective historicity. The challenge posed by Stengers, we suggest, requires the development of an art of immanent attention to the politics of varied matters as they unfold across diverse ecologies of practice. Extending further than the present preoccupations of Euro-American social theory, other areas within and across environmental history, activism and politics offer sites of resistance as well as experimentation whose conceptual possibilities and practical efficacies have yet to be explored. Slowing down theory sufficiently to learn from these multiple sites, we argue, is the starting point for an approach more adequate to the problems posed by the Anthropocene event.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Anthropocene,

KW - Gaia

KW - neo-Marxism

KW - new materialism

KW - Science and Technology Studies (STS)

U2 - 10.1177/0038026119845551

DO - 10.1177/0038026119845551

M3 - Journal article

VL - 67

SP - 1195

EP - 1211

JO - Sociological Review

JF - Sociological Review

SN - 0038-0261

IS - 6

ER -

ID: 216607765