Beyond Growth: Rethinking Customs in the Anthropocene

The Anthropocene is not only a geological concept, but also an epistemological and ethical category that addresses a civilisational challenge. This article argues that homo economicus – the dominant figure in classical economics – is the anthropos that has triggered the Anthropocene, driven by unlimited desires to produce and consume. The Anthropocene is framed as a ‘great externality’ resulting from consumer cognitive incompetence and a growth paradigm incompatible with planetary boundaries. Responding to this Anthropocene challenge requires a radical transformation in customs and worldviews – a paradigm shift from homo economicus to homo ecologicus. Drawing from critical hermeneutics, this article explores this transformation as both a philosophical imperative and a civilisational necessity.