In this talk titled, “The Imperfect Logic of the Anthropocene”, J.R. McNeill introduces the concept of the Anthropocene and some of the debates surrounding it. Does it exist? Should it exist? If it does exist, when did it begin? On what basis should we decide if it exists or not? Scholars and scientists of all persuasions are debating these and related questions in publications and within the Anthropocene Working Group. In 2016, the AWG will make a recommendation to the International Union of the Geophysical Sciences as to whether or not to accept the Anthropocene as a new epoch in the Geological Time Scale. McNeill argues for a young Anthropocene, begun in 1945.

J.R. McNeill is Professor of History and University Professor at Georgetown University, author of 5 and editor or co-editor of 13 books. He is a member of the Anthropocene Working Group.