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Virtue Ethics for GIS Professionals

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Research Trends in Geographic Information Science

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography ((LNGC))

Abstract

The coalescence of the GIS profession in the U.S. became a reality with the establishment of the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) and its formalization of a code of ethics in 2004. Since then, progress has continued, with the crafting of rules of conduct for GIS professionals, and procedures for bringing charges of unethical behavior against GISPs. Development of additional measures to encourage ethical performance by GIS practitioners continues, as case studies are currently in the works. This paper recommends that one more element be added to the ethics suite: virtue ethics. The paper links the idea of virtue ethics to the Weberian concept of professionalism and advocates a formal integration of virtue ethics in the education of GIS professionals.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana State University, 200 North Seventh Street, 47809-9989, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA

    Nancy J. Obermeyer

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  1. Nancy J. Obermeyer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Geoinformation, TU Wien, Gußhausstr. 27-29 E127, Wien, 1040, Austria

    Gerhard Navratil

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Obermeyer, N.J. (2009). Virtue Ethics for GIS Professionals. In: Navratil, G. (eds) Research Trends in Geographic Information Science. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88244-2_3

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