Attuning to the deep on the opportunities of thinking with art for an ethics and science of the deep sea.

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the ethical complexities of deep-sea mining and scientific exploration. We focus on the extractivist underpinnings of Western scientific discovery, arguing that the desire to make the unknown known often leads to exploitative practices that jeopardize fragile ecosystems. Traditional ethical frameworks, which require knowledge of the subjects of moral consideration, are inadequate for reflecting on the scientific exploration of the vast unknowns of the deep-sea. Instead, we propose an ethics of attunement—a relational approach that emphasizes engagement without extraction. Drawing on examples from art and historical scientific practices, we show how non-extractive modes of knowing can inspire ethical scientific exploration. The works of Eugen van Ransonnet and Marianne North exemplify ways of observing ecosystems without disrupting their integrity. The paper further explores the potential of sound as a medium for attunement, leveraging Pauline Oliveros’ Deep Listening concept. We suggest that engaging with art can foster imaginative frameworks necessary for non-extractivist scientific exploration.