The Emerging Field of Geoethics

Annals of Geophysics

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.

Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2021

This is the second volume focused on geoethics published as a Special Publication of the Geological Society of London, a significant step forward in which authors address the maturation of geoethics, a maturity that has strengthened its theoretical foundations in recent years and increased the insight of its reflections. The field of geoethics is now ready to be introduced outside the geoscience community as a logical platform for global ethics that addresses anthropogenic changes. What is clear is that geoethics has a distinction in the geoscientific community for discussing the ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience knowledge, research, practice and education, as well as communication. This provides a common ground for integrating ideas, experiences and proposals on how geosciences can provide additional services to society, in order to improve the way humans interact responsibly with the Earth system. This book provides new messages to geoscientists, social scien...

Springer, 2022

This book outlines the current development of geoethical thinking, proposing to the general public reflections and categories useful for understanding the ethical, cultural, and societal dimensions of anthropogenic global changes. Geoethics identifies and orients responsible behaviors and actions in the management of natural processes, redefining the human interaction with the Earth system based on a critical, scientifically grounded, and pragmatic approach. Solid scientific knowledge and a philosophical reference framework are crucial to face the current ecological disruption. The scientific perspective must be structured to help different human contexts while respecting social and cultural diversity. It is impossible to respond to global problems with disconnected local actions, which cannot be proposed as standard and effective operational models. Geoethics tries to overcome this fragmentation, presenting Earth sciences as the foundation of responsible human action toward the planet. Geoethics is conceived as a rational and multidisciplinary language that can bind and concretely support the international community, engaged in resolving global environmental imbalances and complex challenges, which have no national, cultural, or religious boundaries that require shared governance. Geoethics is proposed as a new reading key to rethinking the Earth as a system of complex relationships, in which the human being is an integral part of natural interactions.

The Geoscience community is called to play an important role in society: helping in the defense against natural risks, orienting on global issues like climate change, looking for new ways to source natural resources from a sustainable perspective, building a knowledgeable society and help to improve the living conditions of human life especially in low income countries. This implies geoscientists are more aware of their social responsibility and capable of working by the principles of integrity, honesty with respect for land, water and air...

Integrity in the Global Research Arena, 2014

Key Features: Written by a global group of contributors with backgrounds ranging from philosopher to geo-practitioner, providing a balance of voices. Includes case studies, showing where experts have gone wrong and where key organizations have ignored facts, wanting assessments favorable to their agendas. Provides a much needed basis for discussion to guide scientists to consider their responsibilities and to improve communication with the public. Description: Edited by two experts in the area, Geoethics: Ethical Challenges and Case Studies in Earth Sciences addresses a range of topics surrounding the concept of ethics in geoscience, making it an important reference for any Earth scientist with a growing concern for sustainable development and social responsibility. 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 et...

Hungarian Geographical Bulletin, 2016

The book provides a unique insight into the emerging field of geoethics and current ethical challenges facing geoscientists. According to a definition in Chapter 1 'geoethics consists of research and reflection on those values upon which to base appropriate behaviour and practice where human activities intersect the geosphere' (p. 4). Like bioethics, geoethics is a form of applied ethics, a new branch of ethics dealing with moral problems, practices and policies especially connected to geosciences, the need for which was first addressed on geological and geoscience conferences in the last two decades. The book is edited by two scholarly geologists devoted to the international enhancement of ethical consciousness in geosciences. Max Wyss (international Centre for earth Simulation, Geneva, Switzerland) is a worldwide acknowledged geophysicist on earthquake risk reduction, while Silvia Peppoloni (National institute of Geophysics and volcanology, rome, italy) serves as Secretary General of the international Association for Promoting Geoethics. The 33 chapters of the book written by 47 different authors shed light on geoethical practice and inquiry from multiple angles. The authors are mainly geophysicists, geologists and also scientists and technical professionals experienced in different areas of risk re-Wyss, M. and Peppoloni, S. (eds.): Geoethics. Ethical Challenges and Case Studies in Earth Sciences. Amsterdam-oxford-waltham, elsevier, 2015. 450 p.

2021

Geoethics was developed as a reflection on the meaning of geosciences and the roles and values of reference of the geoscientific community. More recently, the perimeter of geoethical analysis has expanded to include the global issues of modern societies, above all anthropogenic environmental changes, which are redefining the prospects and expectations of human life on the planet. The current definition of Geoethics describes both its philosophical dimension and aspects related to its practical application in the scientific and social fields. Its formulation has numerous implications and aims to provide reference points for a novel way of intending and relating to the planet. This chapter intends to present the fundamental characteristics, objectives, and general vision of Geoethics, framing it in a synthetic way within some currents of contemporary thoughts.

Geoethics, 2015

The international debate in the field of geoethics focuses on some of the most important environmental emergencies, while highlighting the great responsibilities of geoscientists, whatever field they work in, and the important social, cultural and economic repercussions that their choices can have on society. The Geoitalia 2009 and 2011 conferences that were held in Rimini and Turin, respectively, and were organized by the Italian Federation of Earth Science, were two important moments for the promotion of geoethics in Italy. They were devoted to the highlighting of how, and with what tools and contents, can the geosciences contribute to the cultural renewal of society. They also covered the active roles of geoscientists in the dissemination of scientific information, contributing in this way to the correct construction of social knowledge. Geology is culture, and as such it can help to dispel misconceptions and cultural stereotypes that concern natural phenomena, disasters, resources, and land management. Geological culture consists of methods, goals, values, history, ways of thinking about nature, and specific sensitivity for approaching problems and their solutions. So geology has to fix referenced values, as indispensable prerequisites for geoethics. Together, geological culture and geoethics can strengthen the bond that joins people to their territory, and can help to find solutions and answers to some important challenges in the coming years regarding natural risks, resources, and climate change. Starting from these considerations, we stress the importance of establishing an ethical criterion for Earth scientists, to focus attention on the issue of the responsibility of geoscientists, and the need to more clearly define their scientific identity and the value of their specificities.