Abstract

Consumption is a key concept for understanding the Anthropocene as well as for developing a prospective anthropology of the Anthropocene. This is because the sources of the phenomena associated with the term Anthropocene – such as climate change, the destruction of biodiversity or environmental pollution – can be understood as the result of unsustainable consumption patterns. Simply put, too much is consumed, or too many goods are consumed, and the production, use and disposal of these goods lead to a variety of serious problems. If consumer behaviour has such serious consequences that it ultimately even has a decisive influence on the geophysical Earth system, it seems anthropologically appropriate and revealing to take a closer look at the human as a consumer.