Ethical Challenges and Case Studies in Earth Sciences
E-Book, Englisch, 450 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm
ISBN: 978-0-12-800076-2
Verlag: Academic Press
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)
This book will provide the reader with some obvious and some hidden information you need for understanding where experts have not served the public, what more could have been done to reach and serve the public and the ethical issues surrounding the Earth Sciences, from a global perspective.
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Written by a global group of contributors with backgrounds ranging from philosopher to geo-practitioner, providing a balance of voices.
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Includes case studies, showing where experts have gone wrong and where key organizations have ignored facts, wanting assessments favorable to their agendas.
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Provides a much needed basis for discussion to guide scientists to consider their responsibilities and to improve communication with the public.
Zielgruppe
<p>Primary audience includes geoscientists, legislators and decision-makers.</p>
Autoren/Hrsg.
Fachgebiete
Weitere Infos & Material
Section 1: INTRODUCTION
Section 2: PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS
Section 3: THE ETHICS OF PRACTICE
Section 4: MAN MADE HAZARDS
Section 5: NATURAL HAZARDS
Section 6: EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES
Section 7: LOW INCOME AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Section 8: GEOSCIENCE COMMUNITY
Chapter 1 The Meaning of Geoethics
Silvia Peppoloni1,2, and Giuseppe Di Capua1,2 1INGV – Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy 2IAPG – International Association for Promoting Geoethics, Rome, Italy Abstract
This chapter outlines a framework of the issues addressed by geoethics. Starting from an etymological analysis of the word “geoethics,” we identify the cultural basis on which to expand the debate on geoethics, while also proposing for consideration by the scientific community some questions that may guide the development of future research and practice in geosciences. We attempt to define some fundamental points that, in our opinion, will strengthen geoethics and help its development. The goal of geoethics is to suggest practical solutions and provide useful techniques, and also to promote cultural renewal in how humans perceive and relate to the planet, through greater attention to the protection of life and the richness of the Earth, in all its forms. As each science does, geoethics should also be able to present an image of the world, pointing out the manner in which it can be understood, investigated, designed, and experienced. Keywords
Etymological analysis; Geoethics; Geoscientists oath; Responsibility; Society Chapter Outline The Birth of Geoethics 3 What Is Geoethics? 4 Issues with the Development of Geoethics 5 An Etymological Starting Point: Individual and Social Responsibility 6 Responsibility of Geoscientists 8 An Ethical Commitment: The Geoscientist’s Promise 8 Outlook and Strategies for the Future 10 Conclusions: Questions for a Public Debate on Geoethics 11 References 13 The Birth of Geoethics
For many years, the growing impact of people on natural processes has been both recognized and documented. In 1873, the Italian geologist Antonio Stoppani (1824–1891) hypothesized and defined the “Anthropozoic era,” a geological time in which humans appear as a new “geological force.” This is an era dominated by human activities, in many ways similar to the concept of the Anthropocene as defined by Nobel Prize recipient Paul J. Crutzen (Crutzen, 2002). The Anthropocene refers to the time when human activities became capable of modifying the Earth’s ecosystem and dynamics (Ellis and Haff, 2009). The proposal to formally enter the Anthropocene into the geological time scale is still the subject of lively debate among scientists (Zalasiewicz et al., 2008) and an increasing number of disciplines, such as geoengineering (Borgomeo, 2012), are orienting their research toward the development of technologies that take into account the impact that interventions by humans (though often necessary) may have on the natural environment (Bohle, 2013). The historic great technological and industrial development, the exponential growth of population in the last century, and the consequently huge urban expansion have increased the effects of human interference with the geosphere. In addition, the expanding use of land and the increasing demand for natural resources have highlighted the need, not only for the scientific community but for all of the society, to consider issues such as environmental sustainability and energy, protection from natural hazards, and reduction of pollution and their inevitable repercussions on health and climate change. It becomes evident that geoscientists, as scholars and experts on these issues affecting our planet, can play a fundamental role in society, thanks to their specific and unique skills, by addressing environmental problems at the local and global scale and helping to find optimal solutions. Thus, discussing ethics in relation to geosciences (i.e., geoethics) and considering the social implications of geological research and practice has by default become an indispensable requirement for geoscientists (Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012b). The debate is increasingly broad inside the scientific community and includes specific technical and methodological aspects, as well as theoretical considerations and reflections on the ethical value of geological activities. The problems that arise from the interaction between humans and nature are complex and may require various approaches and solutions. The possibility of multiple solutions and varied results creates a need for an open and widespread scientific discussion, on how to live on the planet, while respecting natural dynamics and human life. This discussion inevitably raises ethical issues that force us to consider our responsibility in this interaction with nature. What Is Geoethics?
Geoethics consists of research and reflection on those values upon which to base appropriate behavior and practice where human activities intersect the geosphere (IAPG, 2012; Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012b). It deals with the ethical, social, and cultural implications of geological research and practice, providing a point of intersection for geosciences, sociology, and philosophy (Moores, 1997; Bosi et al., 2008; Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012b; Peppoloni, 2012a,b). The field of geosciences is wide. The Earth system is the subject of study, which includes the solid Earth, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere (GSL, 2014). This implies that the themes of geoethics are numerous, often interconnected, and include theoretical and practical aspects as well as cultural and operational perspectives. Geoethics focuses on some of the most important environmental emergencies: it encourages a critical analysis of the use of natural resources, promotes careful management of natural risks, and fosters the proper dissemination of the results of scientific studies, including the development of environmentally friendly technologies (Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012b), while also extending its principles to planetary protection (Martínez-Frías et al., 2011). Moreover, geoethics promotes geoeducation, aiming at organizing effective teaching tools (Bezzi, 1999) for developing awareness, values, and responsibility, especially among young people. It fosters the development of geoparks (Eder, 2004; Zouros, 2004; McKeever, 2013) and geotourism (Newsome and Dowling, 2010; Dowling, 2011) in order to create awareness of the value of a region’s geological heritage (Brocx and Semeniuk, 2007; Gray, 2008) and geodiversity (Osborne, 2000). Geoethics also aims at improving the relationships between the scientific community, decision makers, mass media, and the public (Höppner et al., 2012), highlighting the social role played by geoscientists and their responsibilities, as their choices may have ethical, cultural, and economic repercussions on society (Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012b; Bickford, 2013). So, on the one hand, geoethics has practical objectives such as creating references and guidelines that look at providing socio-economic solutions, compatible with the respect for the environment and the protection of humans, nature, and land. On the other hand, it aims at giving a cultural, ethical, and social frame of reference on how to conduct geological research and practice in favor of public welfare (Bickford, 2013); and to give value to geosciences in a cultural sense (Moores, 1997; Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012b; McKeever, 2013), as part of a group of disciplines capable of suggesting new ways to understand and investigate our planet, and upon which we can base a new relationship between humans and nature. Issues with the Development of Geoethics
Despite the importance of its themes, the attention given to geoethics is still limited. Only a few geoscientists make explicit reference to geoethics. Outside the scientific community, among the general public, no one even knows of geoethics. Why? Although the concept of geoethics is increasingly present in many scientific conferences, analyses and debates on the subject have not yet command significant attention. Geoethics does not seem to be accompanied by an adequate research base, nor a satisfactory number of scientific publications. Generally, publications on geoethics are still not considered important in the scientific curricula. So, most geoscientists are hesitant to spend time writing on ethical themes. In short, the issues of geoethics do not easily find space in most respected scientific journals, and this has severely restricted the dissemination of the concept and the development of a critical stance in the scientific community. Consequently, there are only few research projects focused on geoethics, and funds to develop activities and tools on ethical and social aspects in geosciences are scarce. A wide scientific debate could help geoethics not to have an ideological drift (Peppoloni, 2012a), as in some cases has happened to bioethics. Bioethics has contributed greatly to the preservation and respect of human dignity. Indeed, its themes are discussed in universities, hospitals, journals, professional organizations, and are firmly established in the public consciousness. At the same time, it has raised moral and ideological controversies (Tallacchini, 2003). The recent publication of a special issue on geoethics (Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2012a),...
