Geo-Logic

Robert Frodeman

Description

Using a unified vision of geology, consisting of equal parts geo-poetry, geo-politics, geo-theology, and geo-science, Geo-Logic redraws the boundaries between philosophy and the earth sciences. Although each discipline makes crucial contributions to contemporary environmental concerns, neither will fulfill its potential until it transforms itself by engaging the other. This book offers examples of how to relate environmental philosophy to science, public policy, and real world problems, and shows what is epistemologically distinctive about scientific work and how to respond to the cultural dynamics that are pulling these issues into the public sphere. Frodeman advocates humanizing the earth sciences and bringing philosophy into the field.

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

2. Acid Mine Philosophy

3. Corrosive Effects: Environmental Ethics and the Metaphysics of Acid Mine Drainage

4. The Places of Science: The Heavens, the Lab, the Field, and the Screen

5. Earth Stories

6. The Philosophy of (Field) Science

7. Being and Geologic Time: The Meeting of Metaphysics and Politics

8. Science and the Public Self

Conclusion

Notes

Index

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9780791487440
• Langue: English

Extrait

G EO L OGIC

SUNY series in Environmental J. Baird Callicott and John

Philosophy van Buren,

and Ethics Editors

G EO 

L OGIC

B REAKING G ROUND BETWEEN P HILOSOPHY AND THE E ARTH S CIENCES

R OBERT F RODEMAN

S TATE U NIVERSITY OF N EW Y ORK P RESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2003 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, N.Y., 12207

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Fran Keneston

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Frodeman, Robert. Geologic : breaking ground between philosophy and the earth sciences / Robert Frodeman. p. cm. — (SUNY series in environmental philosophy and ethics) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0791456013 (acidfree paper) — ISBN 0791456021 (pbk. : acidfree paper) 1. Earth sciences—Philosophy. I. Title. II. Series.

QE6 .F76 2003 550'.1—dc21

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C ONTENTS

Preface / ix

Acknowledgments / xi

Chapter 1. Introduction / 1

Chapter 2. Acid Mine Philosophy / 19

Chapter 3. Corrosive Effects: Environmental Ethics and the Metaphysics of Acid Mine Drainage / 37

Chapter 4. The Places of Science: The Heavens, the Lab, the Field, and the Screen / 59

Chapter 5. Earth Stories / 77

Chapter 6. The Philosophy of (Field) Science / 95

Chapter 7. Being and Geologic Time: The Meeting of Metaphysics and Politics / 117

Chapter 8. Science and the Public Self / 135

Chapter 9.Conclusion / 155

Notes / 161

Index / 181

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P REFACE

GeoLogicis an essay in environmental philosophy. It ap proaches its subject through a curiously neglected field: the philoso phy of geology. Philosophy and geology (or the Earth sciences) can each make crucial contributions to contemporary environmental con cerns, but neither discipline will fulfill its potential until it refashions itself by engaging the other.GeoLogicseeks to redraw the bound aries between the two fields, humanizing geology and bringing phi losophy into the field. I approach these issues from the perspective of training in both philosophy (a Ph.D.) and geology (a masters). This combination has also been leavened by experience in public policy. My time spent as a consultant with the U.S. Geological Survey has served as a check on both the conceptual rigor of my claims and their relevance to current debates concerning the role of science in society. Finally, my partici pation in a number of educational experiments (the Grand Canyon Semesters I & II; the Southwest Earth Studies Program; and cur rently, the Global Climate Change and Society Program, New Direc tions in the Earth Sciences and the Humanities, and the Flatirons Outdoor Classroom Project) has provided me with opportunities to 1 test these ideas in the field. I have writtenGeoLogicwith four audiences in mind: the philo sophic community; Earth scientists in academia and government; re searchers and actors in political science and public policy; and interested members of the public. A central thesis of this work is that, in working on today’s environmental problems, we must draw upon the combined skills of all these perspectives.GeoLogicoffers philoso phers examples of how to relate environmental philosophy to science, public policy, and realworld problems. It shows earth/environmental scientists what is epistemologically distinctive about their work and

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