Coming from a STEM focused educational background, I found some of the material this week difficult to grapple with, as it existed outside my usual academic perspective. In my biology classes, we often discuss why death occurs and its evolutionary benefits. However, we tend to neglect the thoughts, emotions, and fears that surround it. I look forward to supplementing my previous knowledge about death with this class material, as it will give me a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary purpose and full meaning of death. 

This week, the concept of entropy within the anthropocene resonated with me. It was interesting to view the term entropy through an interdisciplinary lens, as it allowed me to understand our dire climate situation. As discussed in “The other side of the global crisis: entropy and the collapse of civilizations,” the chaos in our world continues to grow and we have reached our capacity to constrain it. In my mind, I was able to picture entropy in the chemical sense: with molecules of liquid evaporating to become a more chaotic gas. This example allowed me to view our world in that same manner. With increased use of fossil fuels and pollutants, our world has begun to fracture. The stratosphere has thinned, more pollutants are released into the air, and climate refugees are forced to flee their homes. Just like evaporating water molecules, our world becomes more chaotic. 

While the idea of entropy in the anthropocene resonated with me, I did struggle with other topics. One was the emphasis placed on inner work when addressing the socio-ecological model. In my public health courses, we have spent hours analyzing the socio-ecological model and applying it to health issues in order to devise solutions. In those discussions, we have recognized the importance of individual beliefs, but ultimately that is not what leads to change. Generally, the top layers of that model are able to create the most change, and individual work lies at the bottom. Placing too much pressure on an individual to modify their thoughts can also imply that they are responsible for the world’s problems, which can lead to burnout if they attempt to change their actions and are met with no results. While inner work is important, these climate issues require more systemic solutions through policies. We cannot force inner work upon the people in charge, so it was hard for me to see inner work as the solution to these issues. 

The Socio-Ecological Model
Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-buffalo-environmentalhealth/part/chapter-3/