Parachute science in paleontology as distributive epistemic injustice
Date
2025
Authors
Version
OA Version
Published version
Citation
Castillo Brache L. Parachute Science in Paleontology as Distributive Epistemic Injustice. Philosophy of Science. 2025;92(5):1076-1085. doi:10.1017/psa.2025.10149
Abstract
Paleontology is facing an ethical crisis related to its long history of extractive practices, including a practice now referred to as parachute science. In this article, I provide diagnostic criteria for identifying parachute science and illustrate them using the high-profile example of a Brazilian dinosaur fossil, Irritator challengeri, acquired by a German museum under dubious conditions. I use this case study to identify three types of harm resulting from parachute science, showing how they can be understood as a case of distributive epistemic injustice. I conclude by using this framework to point toward more ethical paleontological practices.
Description
License
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Philosophy of Science Association. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. This article has been published under a Read & Publish Transformative Open Access (OA) Agreement with CUP.