The Leviacene: Defining Our Times

The Anthropocene, a term increasingly used to describe a geological epoch defined by human impact, often functions as a moral indictment of humanity as an insatiable, self-destructive species. However, this characterization obscures the reality that environmental degradation is not a universal human phenomenon but is driven by specific, scaled-up systems of collective decision-making: states and corporations. These "Leviathans"—artificial entities created by humans—possess their own imperatives and capacities for resource extraction that far exceed the reach of any individual. Rather than viewing this era as a failure of human nature, it should be understood as a crisis of these artificial structures. Addressing the climate crisis requires re-engineering these institutions to align with human needs, effectively transitioning from a "Leviacene" characterized by unchecked systemic growth back to a more human-centered, sustainable model of global coordination.