http://72.10.34.174/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/ An ARC Collaboration Thu, 20 May 2010 03:21:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://72.10.34.174/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/comment-page-1/#comment-1704 Carlo Caduff Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:20:19 +0000 http://anthropos-lab.net/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/#comment-1704 Probabilistic calculation is certainly an important topos in all this. Here is an additional issue: Precaution only works for certain types of events (or the way we have come to think them). I have, for instance, never seen a precautionary type of argument in relation to pandemic influenza. For pandemic influenza, precaution doesn't work, because the event is not preventable. It's effects, however, can be mediated. Hence all the discussion about containment. Probabilistic calculation is certainly an important topos in all this. Here is an additional issue: Precaution only works for certain types of events (or the way we have come to think them). I have, for instance, never seen a precautionary type of argument in relation to pandemic influenza. For pandemic influenza, precaution doesn’t work, because the event is not preventable. It’s effects, however, can be mediated. Hence all the discussion about containment.

]]> http://72.10.34.174/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/comment-page-1/#comment-1703 alakoff Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:16:34 +0000 http://anthropos-lab.net/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/#comment-1703 And there is also of course insurance. Ewald's take on Beck is that precaution takes over when probabilistic calculation can no longer adequately manage catastrophic threats. But for Ewald, precaution is a principle of non-action. In a sense, Sunstein's piece takes the next step: ie. yes, but we can still technically operationalize precaution via a new wrinkle on cost-benefit analysis. The argument that I make in "Preparing for the Next Emergency" (also taking up Beck and Ewald) is that preparedness - and its associated techniques, such as imaginative enactment - is an alternative to precaution in the face of threats that are outside the scope of probabilistic calculation. And there is also of course insurance. Ewald’s take on Beck is that precaution takes over when probabilistic calculation can no longer adequately manage catastrophic threats. But for Ewald, precaution is a principle of non-action. In a sense, Sunstein’s piece takes the next step: ie. yes, but we can still technically operationalize precaution via a new wrinkle on cost-benefit analysis. The argument that I make in “Preparing for the Next Emergency” (also taking up Beck and Ewald) is that preparedness – and its associated techniques, such as imaginative enactment – is an alternative to precaution in the face of threats that are outside the scope of probabilistic calculation.

]]> http://72.10.34.174/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/comment-page-1/#comment-1702 Lyle Fearnley Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:44:24 +0000 http://anthropos-lab.net/vss/2007/03/risk-uncertainty-and-the-precautionary-principle/#comment-1702 I think it would interesting to compare the variety of technical approaches to problems of the future: prevention, preparedness, precaution(ary principle), and perhaps even pre-emption. I believe there is an extensive literature on precaution (including Ewald, for example). Melinda Cooper's paper, "Preempting Emergence: The Biological Turn in the War on Terror" argues that the doctrine of preemption is being applied in public health as well as military strategy. What I think is interesting is that preparedness is clearly distinct from these other approaches, and has been studied much less. I think it would interesting to compare the variety of technical approaches to problems of the future: prevention, preparedness, precaution(ary principle), and perhaps even pre-emption. I believe there is an extensive literature on precaution (including Ewald, for example). Melinda Cooper’s paper, “Preempting Emergence: The Biological Turn in the War on Terror” argues that the doctrine of preemption is being applied in public health as well as military strategy. What I think is interesting is that preparedness is clearly distinct from these other approaches, and has been studied much less.

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