Geoethics. Ethical Challenges and Case Studies in Earth Sciences

451 Pages·2015·5.892 MB·English

by  Max Wyss, Silvia Peppoloni

Geoethics
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Geoethics
Ethical Challenges
and Case Studies in Earth Sciences
Max Wyss
International Centre for Earth Simulation, Geneva, Switzerland
Silvia Peppoloni
INGV – Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy;
IAPG – International Association for Promoting Geoethics, Rome, Italy
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ISBN: 978-0-12-799935-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Geoethics : ethical challenges and case studies in earth sciences / [edited by] Max Wyss,
Silvia Peppoloni.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-12-799935-7 (hardback)
1. Geology–Research–Moral and ethical aspects. 2. Geophysics–Research–Moral and
ethical aspects. 3. Research–Moral and ethical aspects–Case studies. I. Wyss, Max,
1939- editor. II. Peppoloni, Silvia, editor.
QE40.G375 2015
174′.955--dc23
2014035845
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
For information on all Elsevier publications
visit our web site at http://store.elsevier.com/
iv
Contents
Contributors xvii
Preface xxi
Acknowledgements xxiii
Section I
Philosophical Reflections
1. The Meaning of Geoethics
Silvia Peppoloni and Giuseppe Di Capua
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
2. Geoethics: Reenvisioning Applied Philosophy
Ingrid Leman Stefanovic
Part I: The Place of Ethics 16
Part II: Geoethics, Risk Assessment, and Environmental
Decision Making 19
Part III: A New Role for Ethicists 21
References 22
3. The Imperative of Sustainable Development: Elements
of an Ethics of Using Georesources Responsibly
Armin Grunwald
Challenge 26
Making the Vision of Sustainable Development Work 27
v
vi Contents
Sustainability Principles Relevant to Geoethics 29
Protection of Human Health 29
Securing the Satisfaction of Basic Needs 30
Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources 30
Sustainable Use of Nonrenewable Resources 31
Sustainable Use of the Environment as a Sink 31
Avoidance of Unacceptable Technical Risks 32
Conservation of Nature’s Cultural Functions 32
Participation in Societal Decision-making Processes 33
Equal Opportunities 33
Sustainability Assessments for Geotechnologies and
Geosciences 34
References 35
4. Ethics of Disaster Research
Ilan Kelman
Outline of the Problem 37
Interference with Disaster-Related Activities 39
Disaster Research Outcomes 41
Discussion 43
Conclusions 46
References 47
5. Toward an Inclusive Geoethics—Commonalities of
Ethics in Technology, Science, Business, and Environment
Thomas Potthast
Domain and Challenges of Geoethics 50
Interdisciplinary Application-Oriented Ethics and the Tübingen
Approach to Ethics in the Sciences 50
Cases and Fields of Geoethics 51
Professional Ethics of Scientific and Engineering Geosciences 51
Ethical Evaluation Procedures for Specific Projects 52
Respect for (Religions of) Nature and Dimensions of Land
Ethics 54
Outlook: Geoethics and Sustainable Development 54
References 55
6. Humans’ Place in Geophysics: Understanding the
Vertigo of Deep Time
Telmo Pievani
Denialism in Science 57
Discussion: Counterintuitive Science and Our Teleological
Minds 60
Contents vii
How Can One Answer Denialism in Science? 63
Conclusions 65
References 66
Section II
Geoscience Community
7. Research Integrity: The Bedrock of the Geosciences
Tony Mayer
Introduction 71
Some Famous Geoscience Cases 74
The World Conferences on RI and their Outcomes 75
The Singapore Statement 76
Conclusions 80
References 80
8. Formulating the American Geophysical Union’s Scientific
Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy: Challenges and
Lessons Learned
Linda C. Gundersen and Randy Townsend
Introduction 84
Building the AGU Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics
Policy 85
Charge to the Task Force and Foundational Documents 85
Structure of the Policy 86
Challenges and Lessons Learned in Evaluating and Resolving
Scientific Misconduct Allegations 88
Importance of Education and a Positive Research Environment 90
Conclusions 91
References 92
9. Ethical Behavior in Relation to the Scholarly
Community: A Discussion on Plagiarism
Stefano Solarino
Introduction 95
Definition of Plagiarism 97
The Legal Aspects of Plagiarism 98
The Different Forms of Plagiarism 99
Detecting Plagiarism 100
Self-plagiarism 101
The Roles of Ethics and the Scientific Community 103
References 106
viii Contents
Section III
The Ethics Of Practice
10. When Scientific Evidence is not Welcome…
Paul G. Richards
11. M : Ethics of the Maximum Credible Earthquake
max
Roger Bilham
Introduction 120
Right and Wrong: Gut Decisions and Approaching Danger 121
Earthquake Prediction and Forecast, and a Vulnerable Public 122
A Hypothetical Case of Nuclear Power Involving Ethical Decisions 125
Quantifying Future Earthquakes where Few Have Occurred Historically 127
Societal Pressures and Moral Principles 128
The Planned Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in India 130
Is M Appropriate for Public Consumption? 131
max
M in the New Madrid Seismic Zone 132
max
M for the Himalaya 134
max
Discussion 136
Conclusions 137
Postscript 138
References 138
12. Geoethics: Tenets and Praxis
Two Examples from India
Vinod K. Gaur
Perspective 141
Tehri 142
Jaitapur 147
The Critique 150
The Epilogue 151
Appendix: The Context of Geoethics 152
Notes 156
References 159
13. Corporate Money Trumps Science
William Gawthrop (Retired)
Introduction 161
Where the Trouble Began 162
The Larger Study 164
The Fallout from These Studies 167
Contents ix
Conclusions 167
References 168
14. Shortcuts in Seismic Hazard Assessments for Nuclear
Power Plants are Not Acceptable
Max Wyss
Introduction 169
The Assignment 170
A Compendium of Errors 171
The Resolution 173
Conclusions 173
References 174
15. Geoethical and Social Aspects of Warning for
Low-Frequency and Large-Impact Events like Tsunamis
Stefano Tinti, Alberto Armigliato, Gianluca Pagnoni and
Filippo Zaniboni
Introduction 176
Measurement Errors and Prediction Uncertainties 177
Accurate, Successful, Useful Predictions 178
Sources of Uncertainties in Tsunami Forecast Science 180
Tsunami Warnings 182
Tsunami Hazard 183
Tsunami Predictions and Tsunami Warning 185
The Optimal TWS 188
Conclusions 190
Acknowledgments 191
References 191
16. What Foreign Rescue Teams Should Do and Must
Not Do in Muslim Countries
Mohamad amin Skandari
Introduction 194
What First Responders Should Do and Respect Generally 194
Humanity 194
Impartiality 194
Neutrality 195
Fair Allocation of Resources 195
Making Decisions under Fire 195
Meeting the Special Needs of Vulnerable Populations 195
What Humanitarian Workers and First Responders Should Do and
Respect, When They Are Working in an Affected Muslim Community 196
Islam 196