Tempering the not-yet: Towards a social theory for the Anthropocene

Adam, Barbara 2024. Tempering the not-yet: Towards a social theory for the Anthropocene. European Journal of Social Theory 27 (2) , pp. 191-208. 10.1177/13684310231221251

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Abstract

The social sciences have established a plethora of ways to approach the future. Sidestepping any direct engagement with the not-yet has emerged as the dominant way to deal with its assumed non-factual nature. Social theory has laid the foundations for this bracketing with the three overarching key foci on function, meaning and structure. This article considers some of the consequences of treating the not-yet as immaterial for knowledge practices and shows the tradition to be no longer appropriate for the contemporary world. It frames arising issues through the significantly expanded perspective of the Anthropocene to revisit past approaches, explore contemporary challenges and trouble habits of mind in order to open up ways to take futurity and futuring seriously.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, Start Date: 2024-01-02
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	1368-4310
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 May 2024
Last Modified:	03 May 2024 09:01
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168692

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