What Is at Stake in the Formalization of a Chronostratigraphic Unit? A Case Study on the Anthropocene. Issue 5 (25th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bobadilla, Hernán
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of science. Volume 89:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 1024
• Page End: 1033
• Publication Date: 2022-12-25
• Subjects: Science -- Periodicals; Science -- Philosophy; Science; Science -- Philosophy; Philosophie des sciences; Epistemology; Periodicals; 501
• DOI: 10.1017/psa.2022.46
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-767X

Abstract

Abstract: The prospective formalization of the Anthropocene as a chronostratigraphic unit by the International Commission on Stratigraphy has been intensely debated. This paper explores and assesses the stakes of this process from a philosophical perspective. I distinguish two senses of formalization—the descriptive and the evaluative—and argue that: 1) there are descriptive and evaluative formalizations of the Anthropocene beyond the confines of the ICS; 2) incoherencies between Anthropocene proposals and the ICS's current tenets are not a decisive reason for deferring descriptive formalization; and 3) the prospective evaluative formalization of the Anthropocene by the ICS would be impactful.