What is it about?
This article explores the Anthropocene – humanity's significant impact on Earth's geology – through the lens of media and socio-evolution. By employing systems theory, primarily drawing on Niklas Luhmann's ideas, the article investigates how the evolution of communication media, from spoken language to digital platforms, has continuously amplified humanity's influence on the environment. It argues that society's structural developments, enabled by media, have profoundly shaped Earth's climate and ecosystems over millennia. This perspective challenges conventional views, emphasizing that human impact began far earlier than the industrial revolution and has been driven by a "sociotechnical autopoiesis machine" – a self-replicating system of biological, psychic, and social couplings mediated through communication. The article provides a comprehensive model to understand this machine's role in creating the Anthropocene, illustrating its transformative effects from early human interactions with fire to modern digital technologies.
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Why is it important?
Understanding the Anthropocene through media evolution offers a new perspective on humanity's role in shaping the planet. The article highlights how communication systems and media, from spoken language to modern digital platforms, have been pivotal in enabling societal growth and simultaneously driving environmental changes. By tracing this impact back to early media forms, it becomes clear that media are not just tools for communication but also agents of transformation that have amplified humanity's influence on Earth's ecosystems. This approach shifts the focus from recent industrial activities to the deep historical roots of human impact, emphasizing the critical role of media in shaping societal structures and ecological outcomes. Such insights are vital for addressing current climate challenges, as they reveal how societal and technological systems, mediated by communication, must evolve to mitigate environmental degradation effectively.
Perspectives
The article suggests that solutions to the ecological crisis require rethinking the societal structures driven by media evolution. By understanding the historical coupling of communication, technology, and societal organization, we can better navigate the digital age's challenges. The framework invites interdisciplinary dialogue, bridging media studies, sociology, and environmental science, and opens discussions about how digital media might reshape societal norms to prioritize sustainability. It also cautions against oversimplified narratives, advocating for systemic changes to reprogram the "sociotechnical machine" towards ecological balance. This perspective is relevant to researchers, policymakers, and educators seeking to address the Anthropocene's challenges from a holistic and forward-looking standpoint.
Associate Professor Jesper Tække
Aarhus Universitet
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: From media evolution to the Anthropocene: Unpacking sociotechnical autopoiesis, Systems Research and Behavioral Science, April 2024, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/sres.3009.
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