Herodotus in the Anthropocene

We are living in the age of the Anthropocene, in which human activities are recognized for effecting potentially catastrophic environmental change. In this book, Joel Alden Schlosser argues that our current state of affairs calls for a creative political response, and he finds inspiration in an unexpected source: the ancient writings of the Greek historian Herodotus. Focusing on the __Histories__, written in the fifth century BCE, Schlosser identifies a cluster of concepts that allow us to better grasp the dynamic complexity of a world in flux. Schlosser shows that the __Histories__, which chronicle the interactions among the Greek city-states and their neighbors that culminated in the Persian Wars, illuminate a telling paradox: at those times when humans appear capable of exerting more influence than ever before, they must also assert collective agency to avoid their own downfall. Here, success depends on __nomoi__, or the culture, customs, and laws that organize human communities and make them adaptable through cooperation. __Nomoi__ arise through sustained contact between humans and their surroundings and function best when practiced willingly and with the support of strong commitments to the equality of all participants. Thus, __nomoi__ are the very substance of political agency and, ultimately, the key to freedom and ecological survival because they guide communities to work together to respond to challenges. An ingenious contribution to political theory, political philosophy, and ecology, __Herodotus in the Anthropocene__ reminds us that the best perspective on the present can often be gained through the lens of the past. "Can human beings flourish on Earth without destroying the very earthly basis of such flourishing? Herodotus in the Anthropocene develops a vision of earthly flourishing that can inspire and inform action in the twenty-first century. The author argues that Herodotus' Histories offer a basis for articulating and understanding the dynamic nature of our complex world and how human beings develop cultural practices in responsive interaction with nature that shape existence. Earthly flourishing describes living well within an order not entirely of your own making; it suggests the ongoing work of responsive adaptation to circumstances, events, and the fluctuations of fate in an uncertain and often unkind world. According to the author, Herodotus can inspire creative and collective responses to the urgent problems of the present"-- Provided by publisher The nature of things -- The known world -- The practice of nomos -- Narrating inquiry -- Freedom and earthly flourishing -- Conclusion