Kelman, Ilan; (2024) Challenging buzzideas: Global challenge phrases undermining ethical action. In: Peppoloni, Silvia and Di Capua, Giuseppe, (eds.) Geoethics for the Future: Facing Global Challenges. (pp. 85-93). Elsevier

Text Kelman 2024 Challenging Buzzideas.pdf - Published Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff Download (152kB)

Abstract

This chapter critiques populist buzzphrases within global challenge science, demonstrating ways to improve the concepts and exploring how they might undermine ethical action: 1. Planetary boundaries and Earth system boundaries. The main critique is that the framework is not scientifically defensible. The ethical issue is that action becomes based on unsound science. 2. Anthropocene. The main critique is that the word amalgamates several potentially incompatible constructs. The ethical issue is that it distracts from the foundation of contemporary concerns. 3. Social–ecological systems and variations. The main critique is that it presents a starting truism as a mid-point of scientific explorations. The ethical issue is that it marginalizes multiple knowledge forms. This trio's details help to solidify concerns about the populisms of “social capital” and “climate crisis/chaos/collapse/breakdown/disruption/emergency/obstruction,” each diverging from useful and useable science. To push forward geoethics for science supporting ethical, evidence-based action, these buzzphrases ought to be challenged to prevent them from perpetuating and exacerbating the problems that they seek to define and avoid.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item