Harley's Ethical Dilemmas

“Maps should continue to reflect the values of society at large, as their history has shown us they have always done” (p.18).

JB Harley (1989) outlines some of the underlying ethical dilemmas in the discipline of cartography during his time. The discourse emphasizes the neglect of cartographers to engage in social discourse around map-making, and the content of the maps. He sees a “divorce” between the social and the technical aspects of cartography as underling the “crisis of representation”. In general, he characterizes cartographers as “passive reactors” rather than “active initiators”. This is because they rarely engage in the political process, but focus in on the technical aspects of mapmaking.

Society and the value norms of the time-period are reflected on the map, as they are in the history books, and the architecture. On a map this is represented through the place names. Harley, gives examples, of how place names reflect societal values, from the derogatory, racially charged names given to places such as Niggerhead mountain, to the renaming of locations in later times. Names simple published on a map gives them authority, Harley points out. On the other side, he discusses “restoring the map” for instance when the names are replaced by Indigenous pre-colonial place names (p.4). However, he reflects on what happens when the map changes, and those racist names are removed, like a history book being rewritten, he states “In seeking to destroy the past, we are in danger of destroying a witness to the roots of a racial bigotry that still divides our society” (p.15).

Harley argues for the redemption of the topographic map, claiming that it is more democratic—thus it holds higher ground than its counter-parts. In part this because it is published, on paper, and leaves little mystery to the data behind it. In comparison, geographic information systems (GIS) are non-maps, until the visual is presented, critiquing the movement of cartographers focus on GIS. The other concern he raises is the trend towards thematic maps, which represent specific kinds of information, and are ultimately—he argues—reductionist. In contrast the topographical map, is a whole “integrated picture” that has the ability to represent social, cultural and environmental artifacts.

Harley presents several interrelated arguments that relate all back to the same theme-- cartographers do not engage in ethical dilemmas enough. In his many examples of how values of society can be born, shaped and reflected through maps, he is trying to convince the cartographer to listen, watch and act. Maps are texts, as texts they allow for moral reflection.