Doctoral Degrees (Philosophy)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Philosophy) by Subject "Acid mine drainage -- Case study"

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    The precautionary principle and public environmental decision-making in South Africa : an ethical appraisal
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Morodi, Thabiso John; Hattingh, J. P.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this dissertation was to provide the foundations for building a new risk regulatory mechanism in environmental decision-making, which in most cases is influenced by an expert bias in decision-making (that excludes lay people, indigenous knowledge, affected parties and marginalised groups). With this framework, the aim is also to find common ground between scientific uncertainty and complexity in environmental decision-making. This dissertation investigated how the precautionary principle can be applied in concert with other decision-making theories such as qualitative risk assessment to prevent, but in some cases also to address, human-induced environmental catastrophes. Given the tension that exists between the scientific and ‘non-scientific’ communities, a methodology that looks at both options was investigated. The methodology employed in this dissertation was twofold: (I) Desktop research was conducted in which the divergent views of and argumentation by different scholars on the precautionary principle were interrogated and analysed and, secondly, (II) the precautionary principle was tested in a case study involving acid mine drainage and highlighting the implications that this approach could have had in environmental decision-making that seeks to protect human and environmental health. In the final analysis, the precautionary principle (PP) tests the application and validity of cost benefit analysis, quantitative risk assessment, environmental impact assessment, etc. by analysing those areas in which science is undoubtedly weakest (i.e. situations of uncertainty and complexity where environmental damage may be irreversible or potentially catastrophic). It is argued in this thesis that the PP is geared to uphold scientific objectivity and integrity in contexts of uncertainty and complexity, and to assist scientists and policymakers to tread carefully when implementing scientific decisions, particularly those that involve the environment, in order to ensure rationality and objectivity. Lastly, the proposed framework on ethical mining is outlined, helping to set the scene for future environmental decision-making and associated recommendations whose objectivity will help protect human health and the environment by taking uncertainty, complexity and public views into consideration, without side-lining science-based decisions.