Ethical but Upsetting Geoscience Research: A Case Study

Abstract

Geoscience research may upset people even though it is ethically acceptable. In this paper we attempt to explore three questions about such research. It will turn out that (1) under most circumstances ethical but upsetting geoscience research is morally permissible, (2) revising this research in response to upset-induced external interference is morally impermissible in the absence of strong countervailing pragmatic reasons and attempts to reduce upset, and (3) potentially upsetting geoscience research ought to be communicated truthfully and tailored to each individual situation. These general propositions are applied to a case of ethical but upsetting research that we ourselves are currently involved.

Natural Hazards under Climate Change Conditions: A Case Study of Expectations and their Normative Significance in Protecting Alpine Communities

“…The previous somewhat mixed result is also supported by our interviews regarding the CO category, which again suggest that most-but (at least on some interpretation) not all or close to all-residents share Expectation E. Interview responses in this category furthermore suggest that for those residents who do hold Expectation E it is often held rather strongly, i.e., it forms an important part of their identities or lives that is highly emotionally loaded. For example, as suggested in the section "Results Regarding Expectation E," some interviewees stated that they "cannot imagine" relocation scenarios or that these scenarios are not "possible"; and to further support this claim, when we started our research in these areas local officials got so upset about the mere investigation of relocation scenarios that they considered withdrawing their support (see Pölzler and Ortner 2017).…”