Discussion Highlight: A Q&A Session with Michael J. Thate on Current Research Developments
In a thought-provoking interview, Professor Michael Thate, a distinguished scholar with a background in law, design, and ethical philosophy, delved into the complexities of the "scale problem of life." This concept, while not explicitly defined in the context of ethics in human interactions with the natural world, can be interpreted through broader discussions on quality of life and scale in data representation and ethical considerations.
Professor Thate's research-focused daily life revolves around reading widely, intuitively thinking about the intersection of different domains of knowledge, and taking walks. His current research focus is on the ecological question of defining what life is and determining the appropriate scale for human societal impact.
Quality of life (QOL) encompasses various aspects of human existence, including physical and mental health, social relationships, education, and environmental conditions. It is shaped by cultural, economic, and political factors, influencing how individuals perceive their place in society and the world around them. The concept of QOL is often linked to discussions about human well-being and happiness, which can vary significantly across different populations and contexts.
In the context of research, particularly in life course studies, the "scale" problem often refers to the challenge of balancing richness (detailed, nuanced data) and scale (large datasets). Traditionally, data has been represented in tabular formats, which can lead to information loss when rich narratives are compressed into numerical values. This tension affects how we understand and analyze complex patterns in human life, including environmental interactions.
Ethics in human interactions with the natural world involve considerations of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. These interactions are influenced by aspects of QOL, such as environmental conditions and economic factors, which can lead to ethical dilemmas. For instance, balancing economic growth with environmental protection is a scale-related challenge, as it involves managing large-scale data and complex systems to ensure sustainable development.
Relating scale to ethics, the scale problem in this context involves several ethical dimensions: data scale and complexity, environmental impact, and sustainability and justice. Analyzing large-scale data on human interactions with the environment requires sophisticated methods that can handle complexity without losing critical nuance. Ethical considerations also include assessing the impact of large-scale human activities on ecosystems and biodiversity, and ensuring that economic development and environmental policies are equitable and sustainable at a large scale.
During the interview, Professor Thate acknowledged that no one can be certain of everything, particularly in the realm of research. He emphasized the importance of being a lifelong learner and finding beauty in research due to the fact that we don't know. His response to the question about the quantifiable scale problem of life was "I don't know."
This interview is part of Shannon Yeow's Research Insights Series. Shannon Yeow is an Engineering Correspondent who has previously written an article featuring Claire F. Gmachl. The discussion with Professor Thate covered the ethics involved in interactions with the natural world, and potential future developments in his research could explore legal personhood, giving legal rights and personhood to non-human entities like trees. The interview took place in an interdisciplinary context, offering greater opportunities to discover the unknown.
- Professor Thate's current research focus lies in the environmental science realm, addressing the ecological question of defining life and determining the appropriate scale for human societal impact.
- In the realm of education and self-development, Professor Thate advocates for personal growth through lifelong learning and finding beauty in research due to the inherent unknown.
- Technology, such as data-and-cloud-computing, plays a significant role in addressing the scale problem in environmental-science research, as it offers sophisticated methods to handle complex data without losing critical nuance.
