The Historian's Task in the Anthropocene
If “the Anthropocene” suggests a rupture of the Earth System where our future looks nothing like our past, what role is for historians? Are we simply antiquarians with no insight into this predicament, or can we still offer political critique? Julia Thomas addresses this question in three ways, explaining why many scientists find “the Anthropocene” a compelling concept; showing how this concept challenges the history’s disciplinary assumptions; and finally demonstrating how historians, through self-reflection on our practices, might contribute. Using the example of early modern Japan, she proposes a new form of critical history as we move from modernity’s promise of freedom and abundance to the more modest goal of sustainability with decency.
Date:
11 October 2018, 16:00 (Thursday, 1st week, Michaelmas 2018)
Venue:
History Faculty - Lecture Room
Venue Details:
George Street, Oxford OX1 2BE
Speaker:
Julia Adeney Thomas (Associate Professor of History, University of Notre Dame)
Organising department:
Faculty of History
Organisers:
Oxford Transnational & Global History Seminar (University of Oxford),
Oxford Environmental History Network (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
oehn@history.ox.ac.uk
Topics:
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Public
Editor:
Belinda Clark
