Moral implications of working in oil?

[Sirrus]

Hey everyone, I'm currently in graduate school for my masters in geology and am wondering about my job prospects and the moral implications surrounding them. Basically I have two options for work; the oil or mining industry. Since oil geologists don't have to be away from home at weeks/months at a time like mining geologists often do, I feel this is the best choice for me since I plan on having a family in the future. I would never want to have kids if I knew I had to be away from them for extended periods of time.

 

Now that being said, there are moral concerns I have with working for a large oil company. Oil spills are something that come to mind and I don't know if I should feel at all morally responsible to a certain degree if one were to happen at the company I work for. My job would be most likely be to help find the oil resovoirs and primairly its the managers that cheap out / cut corners who are primarily responsible. Other than spills, there is general pollution surrounding oil, but I am not convinced global warming is substantially manmade. The other negative moral implication is that I'd be working for a corporation which is shielded by state power. As Stef has mentioned, if these companies mess up (like cause a spill), the exectutives are safe, backed by the government and don't have to pay for most of the damage they created. Now I understand without government, it wouldn't be like this, and fundamentally the companies are not the issue, its state power. That being said though, if I work for them I don't know how morally connected I would be to everything.

 

This same relationship of state power and coprorations exists also in the mining industry as well, just not to the extent that it does with oil.

 

Beside the percieved negative aspects morally of working for an oil company, I think there are some moral positives. Oil is obviously something we use every day. Anything we use has to be shipped using oil. Its something society relies on and I feel it would be would be rewarding to help find reserves.

 

Let me know what you guys think about all of this. Do the positives outweigh the negatives in your view?

 

 

[Dylan Lawrence Moore]

[Sirrus]

Thanks for the video Dylan, I especially liked the little bit about spills. I'm not concerned as much with the environment as much as I am concerned with how I may be involved in affecting other people's lives. For example, the recent gulf spill had a negative impact on people who relied on the ocean for work, etc. Often the case is that the companies get off easy due to their fashistic relation with government.

[FunFacts]

i don't want to "work" for a living at all... But I go where the money is. 

 

I think ethical dilemmas are an excuse to intellectualize the mind away from personal fears, real issues.

 

I'm all in for LENR technology, bro.  "Petrochemicals are gross."  That's my ethical take on it.  Just keep your hands clean, don't breathe the shit, hahaha.

[Existing Alternatives]

You do of course realise that every corporation is “shielded by state power,” and not just in the oil industry. Therefore, pretty much every job out there is somehow involved in the system. That’s the unfortunate reality of today’s life. Until you come up with a fantastic and profitable business idea you will have to work within the system in some capacity. So, why not do it in such a way that makes the most of your talents and education while compensating you the most?

 

On top of that, there is nothing inherently bad with oil. I mean, it fuels the car that I drive to work, which allows me to provide food for my family. It is also the main ingredient in half the things that surround me in my house. So, go and find some more of it! Just don’t become one of those as***les in charge that pretend like spills don’t happen.

[Sirrus]

Haha Existing Alternatives, I like your view. I tend to forget all other coporations have a degree of government support. This makes me feel a lot more relaxed if I go into the oil industry.

 

And FunFacts, I know I'm probably putting too much conern into this

[MrCapitalism]

 

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(caveats for trade barriers, western oil-motivated imperialism, economically crippling foreign aid, etc.....)

 

edited to add citation links for photos (just so you know where the images came from)

[J-William]

I agree with the general sentiment expressed by others here. As a geologist working to find more and better sources of oil you will be bringing huge benefit to mankind.

 

The fact that anyone who benefits mankind draws the lamprey of the state to suck out their life is no moral reflection on you.

 

Someday it will be a different story, but don't take the moral stain on yourself. We need every hand we can get in this fight, and if you're worried about how the sins of others reflecting on you you can't be in the fight all the way.

[Brentb]

Thanks for the video Dylan, I especially liked the little bit about spills. I'm not concerned as much with the environment as much as I am concerned with how I may be involved in affecting other people's lives. For example, the recent gulf spill had a negative impact on people who relied on the ocean for work, etc. Often the case is that the companies get off easy due to their fashistic relation with government.

 

If no one had ever drilled in the Gulf, would the oil beneath it simply remain there forever? Or would it eventually leak out anyway due to various seismic events?

 

It always seemed to me that the effects of oil spills are exaggerated and played up in the media by governments and environmentalists so that they can extort more money out of oil companies.

[thelizardking52]

You can have a positive impact from within an organization that isn't always moral. It's an opportunity to uncorrupt the corrupted.

 

For example, a military commander can keep his soldiers from needlessy raping and pillaging innocent towns. He can choose not to execute POW's.  A judge in the court system can write sentences more relaxed upon drug offenders and other non violent criminals that a jury finds guilty.

 

Imagine being the person who is in charge of an oilspill cleanup. This  would allow you the most leverage to carry out the best and most efficient clean up while aiding victims of the spill and maximizing the oil companies resources provided.

[Sirrus]

Thanks for all of your comments so far guys. I definately find your points valid and now feel a lot more comfortable with the idea of working in oil.

 

If I didn't have a philsophical community that I could easily, I would have probably pursued oil anyway... but at least you guys are here to ease my mind. Out of everyone I know, I value this community's input probably only second to Stef's

 

While my mind is now fairly set, I still welcome more comments if anyone has them.

[MMX2010]

Thanks for all of your comments so far guys. I definately find your points valid and now feel a lot more comfortable with the idea of working in oil.

 

If you have HBO GO, their documentary series VICE had an excellent episode on the BP oil spill. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efo-7W5wtxQ

[tasmlab]

I do a little work in both the oil and mining industries (and even forestry, chemicals, natural resources).  It's too bad there is corruption and govt dependence in them, but all industries do to some degree.

 

It's one of the more interesting fields I get to work in and the people, compared to other industries, are delightful.  Usually very excited about their work, down to earth, technical.

 

(I know I'm not addressing your question)