The Pros And Cons Of Anthropocene

1. In the age of the Anthropocene, data offers a new image of the globe and humans as subjects

Recent human activities on Earth have triggered many problems. In Seoul, South Korea, I experience not being able to see 10 meters away due to the dense cloud of fine dust. There is a debate about which country between Korea and China causes this fine dust. “It is difficult to observe how the air pollution in China changes over the West Sea, and the pollutant emission data in China is inadequate,” said Professor Zhang of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ajou University. This tells us a lot about the status of debates about the Anthropocene.

In recent years, there has been discussion on how the Anthropocene should be designed and recognized

There are good aspects of the Anthropocene including advanced technology, wise use of the Earth’s resources and cautious manipulation of the natural environment. Belief in the good of the Anthropocene is based on humans’ ultimate decision of what kind of planet they inhabit by “using science and technology as their most potent tools for first identifying and then solving problems” (Hamilton, 2015). However, humanity’s negative impacts cannot be ignored as they are becoming increasingly serious, the result of which is deadly to both humans and the Earth’s eco-system and a threat to our planet’s future. The geographic morphing—Collapses of the Antarctic ice shelves and global sea level rise that result from global warming—are made by human activities in the Anthropocene. In addition, everything, including human life, is commodified under advanced capitalism; for example, human egg selling, embryo research, and

Above all, all things on Earth are recognized as objects made for profit. In particular, bio-data, which is embodied by high-tech, zoe-centred egalitarianism, and monistic philosophy in post-humanism under capitalism have led to the commercialization of everything, including human life. In addition, along with the hierarchy of the god-centred society, scientists and intellectuals overlap with gods, and the Earth is imaged without deep conversation about inferior or recognizable beings in the scientific system. It is also recognized that the Earth should be dominated and developed by humans as a simple object. This fantasy of technological science and philosophy has led us to depend on data generated by advanced sensors and scientific equipment. Thus, this image can make us judge and understand Earth phenomena entirely based on data, despite concerns of manipulation and abuse, especially under capitalism. Discussing this situation, Latour said “they're as scientists modest and whoever is making this data visible and as soon as these groups are interrupted, we lose the sensitivity to connect so a lot a lot of ecology has been around this notion of connection….” in his lecture. Following his comment, scientists, socialists and artists have important roles since they can offer feedback about commotion in