Collective responsibility in the anthropocene

Abstract

Geoscientists have heralded the advent of a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. This new epoch highlights the unprecedented human power to influence the Earth system, thanks to the advancement of modern technology. As the most characteristic phenomenon of the new era, climate change, as well as the inadequacy of human action to address it, poses a challenge to previous moral and political theories. By examining the critiques of contemporary scholars, this thesis attempts to identify the reasons why past theories fall short in addressing the climate crisis, and proposes a theory of collective responsibility as the appropriate ethical framework in the Anthropocene. Inspired by the philosophical inquiry of Dipesh Chakrabarty, this thesis engages with the works of modern philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, and Hans Jonas to construct the theory of collective responsibility. It argues that collective responsibility in the Anthropocene should transcend the boundaries of different communities and generations, and is capable of motivating people to take collective action to combat climate change.