In March 2024, the Anthropocene Working Group's proposal for a formal Anthropocene Series/Epoch of the Geologic Time Scale was formally rejected by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy. What does the failed formalization effort reveal about the relationship between science and normativity under conditions of 'climate crisis'? Drawing on four years of ethnographic observation of the Anthropocene Working Group, this article explains how the Group developed its proposal, why it failed, and what it reveals about the social construction of geological truth. The effort to formalize an Anthropocene unit was based on a coupling of science and politics, wherein geo-scientists could make normative assertions in the register of scientific fact. Ultimately, the Group failed because it was seen as appropriating incumbent geological techniques to advance claims about the future, transitioning geology from a descriptive science about the past to a site of warning.

Alexander Damianos

Social Studies of Science

SOCIAL STUDIES OF SCIENCE 是一份国际同行评审期刊，鼓励提交有关科学、技术和医学的原创研究。该杂志是多学科的，出版的作品来自多个领域，包括：政治学、社会学、经济学、历史学、哲学、心理学、社会人类学、法律和教育学科。该期刊是出版伦理委员会 (COPE) 的成员

Social Studies of Science is an international peer-reviewed journal that encourages the submission of original research related to science, technology, and medicine. The journal is multidisciplinary, publishing works from various fields, including political science, sociology, economics, history, philosophy, psychology, social anthropology, law, and education. It is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

《Social Studies of Science》是一本国际同行评审的学术期刊，鼓励提交关于科学、技术和医学的原创研究。该期刊具有多学科特性，发表的作品涵盖多个领域，包括政治学、社会学、经济学、历史学、哲学、心理学、社会人类学、法律和教育学。该期刊是出版伦理委员会（COPE）的成员。

Category	Quartile
社会学	2
社会学, 科学史与科学哲学	1

Anthropocene angst: Authentic geology and stratigraphic sincerity

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