skip to content
 

What is our future history?

new mphil course
The Anthropocene is the name recently given by scientists to mark a new epoch in which human beings have become the earth’s primary geological agents. The concept of the Anthropocene has put humanity back into planetary history, confronting her with collective responsibility, but also culpability, for the earth and its future. These (often) unacknowledged debts to theology pose as both challenge and invitation:
Should the Anthropocene’s anthropocentrism encourage a reactionary turn to the post-human or a critical recuperation of Christian humanism? 
 
How does the dizzying scale of geological time contrast with environmental theology’s concurrent tendency to favour smaller-scale paradigms of an ‘incarnated’ present? 
 
This module will study the Anthropocene as an emergent concept, approaching it critically from the perspective of environmental theology. Following an introductory seminar, three classes will address the Anthropocene through the following themes: sin, creation, afterlife, and apocalypse. The module is assessed by a critical research paper of 5,000 words. Students may formulate their own essay question in consultation with the course coordinators, Dr Simone Kotva and Dr Hjördis Becker-Lindenthal. Please email the conveners with any questions. Since modules can occasionally change from year to year, you may wish to speak to the coordinators about details of provision in the future.
 
 
 

Anthropocene reading group: MAGIC AND ECOLOGY

 

An interdisciplinary reading group addressing urgent cultural and environmental concerns. Our theme this year is: MAGIC & ECOLOGY. The group is open to all students and staff. Please enquire to Simone Kotva (sak54@cam.ac.uk) for further details.

 

 

 

 

 

----------------------

Image used on this page: Title: Anthropocene. Creator: Hjördis Becker-Lindenthal. Source: Creator. Licence: ©Hjördis Becker-Lindenthal. All rights reserved.