1 / 10

Geological and Environmental Philosophy: Understanding Earth's Systems

Dive into the philosophy and fundamental concepts of environmental geology, exploring Earth's physical and chemical processes and societal impacts. Discover how geologists work, cultural basis for environmental awareness, and ethical considerations in preserving our living space.

terra
Download Presentation

Geological and Environmental Philosophy: Understanding Earth's Systems

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. GLY 2030c Environmental and Engineering Geology Dec. 26, 2004 - Thailand

  2. GLY 2030c Environmental and Engineering Geology Seismogram GLY 2030C Link to visualization: http://es.ucsc.edu/~ward/indo.mov

  3. Story of Easter Island ~1500 yrs ago – Polynesian arrival Evolved to a complex society by 1500s Societal collapse by first European arrival – 1700s Rapid depletion of limited resources blamed for collapse Documented in book by Jared Diamond “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” GLY 2030C

  4. Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Course Overview • We’ll learn about Earth’s physical/chemical processes • Required to assess scientific concepts with respect to social/human value judgements • Book’s Organization • Philosophy, physical and fundamental principles • Overview of natural processes (geohazards) • Minerals, energy, and environmental issues • Global change and earth systems (human interactions) GLY 2030C

  5. Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Introduction to Environmental Geology • 4.5 X 109 ybp -formation the solar system (Astronomical Evidence) • 3 X 109 ybp -life begins (Fossil evidence) • Many plant and animal groups rise and fall • 2.6 X 106 ybp –hominids evolve • Olduvai Gorge in Kenya and Tanzania Stromatolites from Bolivia GLY 2030C Paranthropus boisei

  6. Geologic Time Scale (clock) Humans have been on the planet for 0.05% of Earth history. Condense Earth history to a year? Humans arrive on Dec. 31st at 8pm Roman Empire to present – last 15 sec before midnight GLY 2030C

  7. Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Environmental geology: Applied geology • Uses geologic information to assess: • Natural hazards (floods, quakes, slides, etc.) • Landscape/ environmental impact statement • Earth materials • Hydrologic processes • Geologic processes • Environment: the total set of circumstances surrounding an individual or community • Physical • Atmosphere (air), Hydrosphere (water), Geosphere (landforms) • Social and cultural conditions • Ethics, Economics, Aesthetics GLY 2030C

  8. Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • How Geologists Work: The Scientific Method • Observation • Hypothesis • Collect data, organize, and analyze • Multiple hypotheses developed to explain the data • Hypothesis testing and interpretation of results • Theory evolves as tests are successful • Law or Theorem GLY 2030C

  9. Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Cultural Basis for Environmental Awareness • Origin of our present condition lies in the past • Functional categories of society significant in environmental studies • For solutions - may have to look to the future • Overpopulation, hazardous waste, global warming, resource depletion • Industrial revolution changed human/envt. relationship: • Increased population increased demand on resources and increased toxic waste • Global Environmental Concerns: • Developing nations are pressured to exploit resources

  10. Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Environmental Ethics • “A crisis of survival” • (Stuart Udall) • Nash’s pyramid • (increasing evolution of responsibility) Ultimately, environmental stewardship is not about “saving the planet” – it is about preserving our own living space. GLY 2030C

More Related