CroninProjects.org/Geoethics/Glossary/

Revised May 30, 2025


Applied Ethics Resources for Geoscience Students and Professionals


Defining key terms and ideas used in applied geoscience ethics



Terms


agent, agency, moral agent

Agency article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Agency from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


altruism

Altruism article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Altruism from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


applied ethics

video resources (external to this website):
 • Applied Ethics from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


appropriation and attribution

video resources (external to this website):
 • Appropriation and Attribution from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — cognitive bias

video resources (external to this website):
 • Cognitive Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — confirmation bias

video resources (external to this website):
 • Confirmation Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — conformity bias

video resources (external to this website):
 • Conformity Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — implicit bias (also known as unconscious bias)

Implicit Bias article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Implicit Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — in-group/out-group bias

video resources (external to this website):
 • In-group Out-group Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — overconfidence bias

video resources (external to this website):
 • Overconfidence Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — self-serving bias

video resources (external to this website):
 • Self-serving Bias from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bias — unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias)

Implicit Bias article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • What is Unconscious Bias? from The Ethics Centre via YouTube


bounded ethicality

video resources (external to this website):
 • Bounded Ethicality from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


bullying

 "Bullying means using power or perceived vulnerability to harm, intimidate, coerce, and/or sabotage an individual’s professional or academic work or efforts. Bullying may occur in person, in writing, or via any form of electronic communication."

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


cognitive dissonance

video resources (external to this website):
 • Cognitive Dissonance from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


common good

The Common Good article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Also refer to the book by Robert B. Reich, The Common Good (2018, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 189 p., ISBN 978-0-525-52049-8)


conflict of interest

video resources (external to this website):
 • Conflict of Interest from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


consequentialism

Consequentialism article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Consequentialism from The Ethics Centre via YouTube


corporate social responsibility

video resources (external to this website):
 • Corporate Social Responsibility from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


corruption

Corruption article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Corruption from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


deontology (duty ethics)

Deontological Ethics article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Deontology from The Ethics Centre via YouTube
 • Deontology from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


dignity

Dignity article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.


discrimination

 "Discrimination means treating individuals differently because of protected characteristics, resulting in unfair treatment and the denial of opportunities in educational, employment, funding, and/or other professional activities."

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


egoism

Egoism article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.


ethical fading

video resources (external to this website):
 • Ethical Fading from Ethics Defined , UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


ethics

video resources (external to this website):
 • What is Ethics? from The Ethics Centre via YouTube
 • Ethics, Morality, & the Law from The Ethics Centre via YouTube
 • Ethics from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


harassment

 "Harassment is a type of discrimination characterized by unwanted, demeaning, disrespectful behavior toward individuals based on protected characteristics. Harassing behavior ranges from verbal comments, such as epithets and slurs, to visual displays to physical conduct, such as threatening or blocking someone’s way."

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


fabrication

 "term "

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


falsification

 "term "

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


fiduciary duty

video resources (external to this website):
 • Fiduciary Duty from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


hedonism

Hedonism article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Hedonism from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


integrity

Integrity article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Integrity from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


justice

Justice article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Justice from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


moral or morals

The Definition of Morality article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Ethics, Morality, & the Law from The Ethics Centre via YouTube
 • Morals from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


moral reasoning

Moral Reasoning article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Moral Reasoning from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


obedience to authority

Legal Obligation and Authority article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Obedience to Authority from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


plagiarism

Plagiarism involves "appropriating another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit" according to the U.S. federal regulations (45 CFR 93.103). GSA interprets this definition broadly to forbid plagiarism in verbal or written communications.

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


protected characteristics

 The term "protected characteristics refers to factors that are not relevant and must not be considered in making decisions about an individual’s competence or qualifications. This includes race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, creed, religion, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy, education, class, political affiliation, and parental status."

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


research misconduct

Research misconduct is "behavior defined in accordance with the U.S. federal regulations (45 CFR 93.103), which includes: fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism." Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism are defined separately in this online glossary.

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


respect

Respect article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.


retaliation

 "Retaliation means punishing someone for engaging in a legally protected activity. Generally this involves taking adverse action against individuals because they have complained about a legal or policy violation instead of using legitimate, unbiased criteria to make the decision."

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


sexual harrassment

 "Sexual harrassment means unwelcome or unsolicited sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, conversations about sexual activities, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature."

Definition from Appendix A of the Geological Society of America Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Appendix A: Glossary


social contract

video resources (external to this website):
 • Social Contract Theory from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


sustainability

video resources (external to this website):
 • Sustainability from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


trust

Trust article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.


truth

Truth article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.


utilitarianism

(also see consequentialism )

Act and Rule Utilitarianism article from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy .

video resources (external to this website):
 • Utilitarianism from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


values

video resources (external to this website):
 • Values from Ethics Defined UT-Austin McCombs B-School via YouTube


virtue ethics

Virtue Ethics article from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

video resources (external to this website):
 • Virtue Ethics from The Ethics Centre via YouTube




Online Ethics Glossaries

Other References

Martin, M.W., and Schinzinger, R., 2005, Ethics in Engineering [4th edition]: Boston, McGraw-Hill, 339 p., ISBN 0-07-283115-4.




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