Power and gaze: the human experience of volcanoes across myth, philosophy, literature, and geoethics

Aug 21, 2026

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Volcanoes function as anthropological and cultural reference points: enduring symbols of nature’s power alongside reflections of human fragility and aspiration. Across myth, literature, philosophy, and scientific practice, awe and fear become engines of knowledge and responsibility. The paper synthesizes these anthropological attitudes, emphasizing the sublime and wonder/tháuma as both cognitive and emotional experiences that shape geoethical reflection.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences, 01, 01, 2026; doi:10 .4401/jgsg-108 Power and gaze: the human experience of volcanoes across myth, philosophy, literature, and geoethics Fabio Gabrielli 1, Sonia Topazio2, Silvia Peppoloni*,2,3,4,5, Guido Giordano6 1 School of Management‑Università LUM‑Università Jean Monnet, Milan, Italy 2 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy 3 International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG), Rome, Italy 4 Commission on Geoethics, International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), Rome, Italy 5 Chair on Geoethics, International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences (CIPSH), Rome, Italy 6 Dipartimento di Scienze, Università di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy Article history: received January 28, 2026; accepted February 24, 2026; published March 9, 2026 Abstract Volcanoes assert themselves as true anthropological and cultural topoi, symbols of nature’s power and, at the same time, mirrors of human fragility and aspiration. The awe with which humans have long approached their force has generated mythological, literary, philosophical, and scientific experiences and practices of great fascination and marked cultural interest, revealing how fear and wonder can become drivers of knowledge and responsibility. In this contribution, an attempt will be made to offer an exemplary synthesis of some of these anthropological practices, ranging from myth and its role in the development of scientific thought, to literature and philosophy, with particular attention to the concept of the sublime and to the function of wonder/tháuma as both a cognitive and emotional experience. From this perspective, volcanoes are not only objects of study or threats to be managed, but also instruments of geoethical reflection, as they invite recognition of our belonging to nature, our finitude, and the need to establish relationships with the environment based 1 Power and gaze: volcanoes in myth, philosophy, and geoethics on respect, care, and shared responsibility. Wonder, far from being a mere irrational feeling, thus becomes a driver of prudent behaviour, social awareness, and sustainable practices, integrating scientific knowledge and cultural sensitivity in coexistence with natural forces. Keywords: Volcanoes, Myth, Awe, Power, Anthropological postures, Geoethics. But once her gentle, humble, quiet smile no longer hides its newly minted delights, in vain the most ancient Sicilian smith moves his arms toward the forge, for from Jove’s own hand the weapons have been taken, tempered on Mongibello in every trial. Francesco Petrarca (Italian, poet, writer, philosopher and philologist: 1304‑1374) Atthe summit, there are two craters, of which we ourselves beheld the second, less deep, narrow as the circumference of a well. […] A stony plain surrounds it in a tight ring; scarcely had we descended into it, almost struck in the face by sudden clouds of sulphur and by smoke as fierce as that issuing from a furnace, when we turned back. […] […] it happened that, in the very place we observed most closely, covered with stones barely cooled and still containing fire and sulphur, through a fissure that had opened, there began to gush a river of lava, directly right beneath our feet […] . Pietro Bembo (Italian writer, grammarian, poet, and humanist: 1470‑1547) 2 Fabio Gabrielli et al. 1. Introduction With their spectacular grandeur, volcanoes, in their trajectory from myth to volcanology, have always fascinated and unsettled humans: it is no coincidence that in antiquity, fiery mountains inspired legends everywhere, as can be seen in the rich Greek and Roman mythology (Faraone, 2002; Santacroce and Di Paola, 2006) . In Japan, it is said that Mount Fuji, created by a giant, is inhabited by deities. Kīlauea in Hawaii is considered, according to legend, the home of the goddess Pele. African volcanoes are seen by local populations as gateways to the afte

FAQs

What is the main focus of the paper on volcanoes?

The paper examines volcanoes as cultural and anthropological topoi linking myth, philosophy, literature, and geoethics.

How does the article connect wonder and the sublime to geoethics?

Wonder/tháuma is treated as a cognitive and emotional driver of prudent behavior, social awareness, and sustainable practices informed by science and cultural sensitivity.

How does the introduction describe volcanoes in relation to humans?

It highlights that volcanoes’ grandeur has long fascinated and unsettled people, inspiring legends across Greek, Roman, and other global traditions.

Aug 21, 2026

Upload by Aurelia