Geoethics: Manifesto for an Ethics of Responsibility Towards the Earth

Description

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. Foreword Contents 1 Introduction References 2 Origins of Geoethical Thought 2.1 The Search for Roots 2.1.1 Man Is a ‘telluric force’: Antonio Stoppani 2.1.2 ‘Man Is Nature Becoming Conscious of Itself’: Elisée Reclus 2.1.3 ‘Land Ethic’: Aldo Leopold 2.1.4 The Unity of Scientific and Humanistic Cultures: Felice Ippolito 2.2 Ethical and Social Aspects of the Geosciences References 3 From Ethics to Geoethics 3.1 The Problem of Choice 3.2 From the Definition of Ethics to Geoethics 3.3 The Definition of Geoethics 3.4 The Profound Meaning of Geoethical Thinking 3.5 The Fundamental Characteristics of Geoethics References 4 The Concept of Responsibility 4.1 Geoethics and Responsibility 4.2 The Meaning of Responsible Action 4.3 The Four Geoethical Domains of Human Experience 4.4 Responsibilities of Geoscientists and the Human Agent 4.4.1 Individual Responsibility 4.4.2 Interpersonal Responsibility 4.4.3 Social Responsibility 4.4.4 Environmental Responsibility References 5 The Advantage of Geoethical Action 5.1 Why Should We Behave Ethically? 5.2 Towards a New Political Agenda 5.3 Moral Development and Ecological Action References 6 Ethical Problems and Dilemmas in the Geosciences 6.1 The Search for a Functional Balance 6.2 Facing Dilemmas: Scenarios and Uncertainties References 7 The Values of Geoethics 7.1 Making Ecological Feeling Concrete 7.2 Geoheritage and Geo-conservation 7.3 Sustainability 7.4 Adaptation 7.5 Prevention 7.6 Geo-environmental Education References 8 Geoethics and Anthropogenic Global Changes 8.1 Environmental Emergencies 8.2 Anthropogenic Impact: Population Growth and Economic Systems 8.3 Global Warming: Relying on Geoengineering? 8.4 Natural Hazards: Are They Increasing? 8.5 Declining Biodiversity: Are We Close to a New Mass Extinction? 8.6 Soil Degradation and Water Pollution: Causes of Future Conflicts? 8.7 Mineral Resources: Circular Economy or Extraction from the Oceans? References 9 Geoethics for an Ecological Humanism 9.1 From the Emergence of an Ecological Conscience to Geoethics 9.2 The Question of the Anthropocene 9.3 Ecological Humanism: Towards a Responsible Anthropocentric Vision 9.4 A Systemic Vision and a Law Aimed at Educating 9.5 Charter for a Human Responsible Development References