Mathematics and the Anthropocene equation: Comment on Gaffney O and Steffen W (2017) The Anthropocene equation. The Anthropocene Review 4:53-61

Reinout Heijungs*, Jan J. Boersema, Gjalt Huppes

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to JournalComment / Letter to the editorAcademic

    Abstract

    A recent paper in The Anthropocene Review introduces an ‘Anthropocene equation’, which is assumed to model the Anthropocene. While welcoming mathematical treatment as such, we criticize the specific approach for being sloppy, wrong and empty. While the use of mathematics in the criticized paper suggests a high level of scientific rigor, it actually weakens the message rather than strengthens it.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)259-263
    Number of pages5
    JournalThe Anthropocene Review
    Volume4
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2017

    Keywords

    • Anthropocene equation
    • mathematics
    • rhetorics

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