Every discussion about the concept of the Anthropocene implies a linear and rather uncritical description of human development. It is predominantly examined from an economic perspective, encompassing processes of industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and technological advancement. Each of these elements is portrayed in its current form as an inevitable evil, without which the establishment of modern society would be impossible. However, the responsibility for the negative manifestations of economic progress is attributed to all of humanity as a whole, as if it were acting as a unified organism devoid of contradictions. All parts of this social body are considered equal, obscuring the existence of various forms of oppression and resulting inequalities.

Jason Moore, an American geographer and environmental historian, argues in the collection "Anthropocene or Capitalocene?" that the history of human planetary arrangements is far more complex. He calls for a reevaluation of the Anthropocene as a combination of economic interests, power relations, dominance, and deeply instrumental relationships towards both humans and nature. Together, these factors lead the world towards social and ecological decline.

Moore proposes understanding the current structure of society as a particular way of organizing nature, which gives rise to all the familiar problems of imperialism, external and internal wars, social stratification, and various forms of discrimination experienced by "developing" countries or states of the "third world." These afflictions are the result of extractive policies that ensure uninterrupted production and accumulation of wealth for a few across all aspects of global capitalism.

Resources in this societal system are distributed unevenly. This is largely because not all people were allowed to become part of the "humanity" category, which was claimed by white male colonizers. Throughout centuries, Western empires excluded numerous peoples and social groups from this category, treating them and the territories they inhabited as yet another segment of nature suitable solely for cheap and irresponsible exploitation.

As social relations became more complex, thanks to democratic revolutions and technological breakthroughs, the utilization of cheap labor became challenging. People's struggle for material well-being helped millions to escape poverty but did not lead to a fundamental restructuring of society. Moreover, the compensation limited to the realm of labor force reproduction—albeit quite restricted—did not make the social world sustainable. It only intensified production and mass consumption, dealing a new blow to society and the environment.

Approaching a climate catastrophe, the world is increasingly confronted each year with the necessity of limiting or even abandoning the use of cheap natural resources, including human resources. This compels narrow groups to concentrate power and wealth in their hands, resisting nature's attempts to reclaim what is rightfully hers. However, the history of humanity demonstrates that nature—and all entities associated with it—regularly responds to attempts to control it through violence.