Geoethics: Ethical, Social and Cultural Implications in Geosciences

Abstract

Humans are recognized as a "geological force", capable of modifying natural environments, and in virtue of this prerogative they have an ethical responsibility towards the planet. Indeed, studying and managing the Earth system, exploiting its geo-resources, intervening in natural processes are actions that involve great responsibilities towards society and the environment, of which perhaps we, as geoscientists, are not sufficiently aware. Only by increasing the awareness of this responsibility, can we work with wisdom and foresight, and respect the balances that exist in nature while guaranteeing a sustainable development for future generations. In order to define acceptable solutions to current global challenges, we need to take into proper consideration the ethical and social aspects involved in geoscience issues. Geoethics was born to define a conceptual substratum of categories, useful as framework of reference for geoscientists, to help them develop a new way of thinking and interacting with the Earth system. Geoethics widens the cultural horizon of geoscience knowledge and contributes to orient scientists and society in the choices for responsible behavior towards the planet. The paper provides an overview of the emerging field of geoethics, focusing on theoretical and practical aspects, by showing the trajectory that has led to the current point of development of geoethics and suggesting some cues for thought for further advancements of ethical thinking in geosciences.

Geoethics for Nudging Human Practices in Times of Pandemics

“…To show how we like to relate the field of geoethics philosophically with the crisis that a pandemic pose, let us recall a part of the axiomatic definition of geoethics: "Geoethics consists of research and reflection on the values which underpin appropriate behaviors and practices, wherever human activities interact with the Earth system" [29] (p.2). As mentioned before, 'wicked', that is complexadaptive, social-ecological-systems exhibit a plethora of non-linear characteristics, one of them, the feedback processes involving cultural responses to natural processes.…”

“…The works of Kohlberg [25] and Jonas [37], namely about moral adequacy of normative frameworks of human agents and the imperative of responsibility for those agents who deploy technologies, provide such concepts. The extension of the foundations of geoethics can be done in two steps to describe what "appropriate behaviors and practices, wherever human activities interact with the Earth system" [29] (p.2) implies.…”

“…Both approaches may be challenged, either as side-lining other philosophical concepts [9], [10], [44], [45] that are suitable to face circumstances of a pandemic, or as an idealist-based secular approach making abstractions from the social organization, capitalist determinations, or historical developments, which are necessary to understand pandemics. Regarding the latter challenge, the definition of geoethics stresses also the "the social role and responsibility of geoscientists in conducting their activities" [29] (p.2. ), which provides a foothold to counter such weaknesses, which are paramount in times of a (health) pandemic that at its roots is about social organization.…”

Ethics to Intersect Civic Participation and Formal Guidance

“…The human-rights-based approach of the SSF Guidelines has no equivalent in the definition of Geoethics, although human rights were addressed in developing geoethical thinking [102]. Nevertheless, the explicit reference to human rights can be strengthened when applying geoethics to the marine environment based on its actor-centric design.…”

Ethical Dilemmas in Geosciences. We Can Ask, but, Can We Answer?

“…But, we can suggest geoethical decisions by justifying them adequately from a scientific and technical point of view, and by clearly indicating pros and cons of the choice we are proposing, including a cost/benefit analysis also in societal and environmental terms, and including in our scientific analysis both probabilities and uncertainties. This approach is expected to lead to that point of equilibrium among positive and negative consequences (Peppoloni and Di Capua, 2017b). However, geoscientists cannot be always able to propose solutions to real geoethical dilemmas.…”