Welcome to the Anthropocene
This is a story of a man who stumbled upon a bottle containing a genie. Emerging out of the bottle, the genie proclaimed, “Ask me anything, and I’ll grant it to you. But be careful what you wish for.”
Without hesitation, the man wished, “I want to live forever.”
The wish was granted. But over time, the man realized his loneliness was unbearable. His immortality brought aching joints and endless wrinkles. Friends and loved ones passed away. What was meant to bring joy became a source of unintended and irreversible suffering.
This, in essence, is what the Anthropocene is about. The genie of Reason and Science granted humanity’s wish to master nature, but the gift came with dire consequences: including climate catastrophe, rising global inequalities, and biodiversity loss. We are paying for the unintended outcomes of our hubris.
What Is the Anthropocene?
The Anthropocene is the proposed name for our current epoch, which began roughly at the end of World War II. The term, coined by geologists, highlights humans' profound impact and domination on Earth's systems. Tellingly, It is the first time that geologists have ventured into such a politically charged arena, blending natural science with social critique.
The Journey Ahead
In the coming months, we’ll explore the challenges and opportunities posed by the Anthropocene through a decolonial and African lens. Once a month, I will share my thoughts on our political moment, muse about a world defined by climate change, and probe how Technology might accelerate or prevent that future.
What you can expect from this newsletter:
Understand Technology’s Impact on the Present: Gain clarity on how technology influences our daily lives and intersects with ecology, geopolitics, and culture.
Challenge and Expand Your Thinking: Use philosophical frameworks to explore new intellectual horizons.
Prepare for the Future: Discover insights and ideas that inspire a desirable future—for you as an individual and as part of a collective.
Thinkers like Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault, Dona Haraway, and Bruno Latour alongside Mohamed Arkoun, Houria Bouteldja, Ibn Arabi, and Ibn Khaldun, will guide us as we navigate this terrain.
Who’s Behind Unsettled Threads?
I’m an entrepreneur and technologist from Algeria living in Europe. I have a background in computer science and a growing interest in postmodern thought. Since 2013 and the Snowden leaks, I began to question the unwavering belief in the positive power of technology. Over time, I’ve developed a more critical lens toward the intellectual tradition that brought us here.
The pandemic gave me the impetus and time to put my ideas on paper and confront my fear of embarrassment/imposture syndrome. It took a bit of insomnia, some ChatGPT edits, and the unwavering encouragement of my support system to finally leap.
So, please hop aboard! Unsettled Threads is designed as both a personal space for reflection and a community for thread-weavers grappling with life in the Anthropocene.
Your feedback means the world to me—if these articles resonate, please like, comment, subscribe, or share. That was my wish when I saw the genie. 😊
Stay tuned,
Ismail