Geoethics and philosophy of Earth sciences: the role of geophysical factors in human evolution

Pievani, Telmo (2012) Geoethics and philosophy of Earth sciences: the role of geophysical factors in human evolution. Annals of geophysics, 55 (3). pp. 349-353. ISSN 2037-416X

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Abstract

This article explores the role of philosophy of the Earth sciences in the foundation of the principles of ‘geoethics’. In particular, the focus is on two different examples of philosophical analysis in the field of geosciences: the first is the trial against the Italian National Commission for Forecasting and Predicting Great Risks, which was charged with negligence in communication and prediction on the occasion of the earthquake that almost destroyed the city of L’Aquila on the night of April 6, 2009; the second is related to the scientific and theoretical consequences of the updated geographical scenario of the human global populating of the Earth, based on archeological, paleontological and genetic data. Our concept of ‘scientific prediction’ in the case of geophysical phenomena and the new ways to see human evolution that depend on geophysical factors have ethical and philosophical implications that are crucial for the foundations of geoethics. The tentative conclusion is that we need an evolutionary sense of belonging to our Planet, and a concept of ‘natural’ phenomena and ‘natural’ disasters that should not be an alibi for the underestimation of our political and ethical responsibilities

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Geoethics, Philosophy of Earth sciences, Scientific prediction, Risk, Natural disasters, Probability
Subjects:	100 Filosofia e Psicologia > 170 Etica > 174 Etica delle attività (Classificare qui l'Etica economica, professionale; l'Etica del lavoro) > 174.936334 Gestione delle catastrofi – Aspetti etici 100 Filosofia e Psicologia > 170 Etica > 174 Etica delle attività (Classificare qui l'Etica economica, professionale; l'Etica del lavoro) > 174.936334 Gestione delle catastrofi – Aspetti etici 100 Filosofia e Psicologia > 170 Etica > 174 Etica delle attività (Classificare qui l'Etica economica, professionale; l'Etica del lavoro) > 174.936334 Gestione delle catastrofi – Aspetti etici 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 550 Scienze della Terra > 551 Geologia, Idrologia, Meteorologia > 551.01 Geologia, Idrologia, Meteorologia - Filosofia e teoria (Filosofia e teoria della Geologia)
Depositing User:	Roberto Wiedman
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2012 12:44
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2012 12:44
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/4181

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