Philosophy and the Precautionary PrincipleScholars in philosophy, law, economics and other fields have widely debated how science, environmental precaution, and economic interests should be balanced in urgent contemporary problems, such as climate change. One controversial focus of these discussions is the precautionary principle, according to which scientific uncertainty should not be a reason for delay in the face of serious threats to the environment or health. While the precautionary principle has been very influential, no generally accepted definition of it exists and critics charge that it is incoherent or hopelessly vague. This book presents and defends an interpretation of the precautionary principle from the perspective of philosophy of science, looking particularly at how it connects to decisions, scientific procedures, and evidence. Through careful analysis of numerous case studies, it shows how this interpretation leads to important insights on scientific uncertainty, intergenerational justice, and the relationship between values and policy-relevant science. |
Contents
The precaution controversy | 1 |
Answering the dilemma objection | 17 |
The unity of the precautionary principle | 44 |
The historical argument for precaution | 69 |
Scientific uncertainty | 95 |
Counting the future | 120 |
Precautionary science and the valuefree ideal | 144 |
Values precaution and uncertainty factors | 171 |
Concluding case studies | 199 |
Appendix | 218 |
| 234 | |
| 254 | |
Other editions - View all
Philosophy and the Precautionary Principle: Science, Evidence, and ... Daniel Steel Limited preview - 2014 |
Philosophy and the Precautionary Principle: Science, Evidence, and ... Daniel Steel No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
acceptance Ackerman action agent-relative alternatives assessment application approach argue argument from inductive Bendectin breast implants Bt corn carbon tax catastrophe Chapter chemicals claim climate change mitigation concept concerns consequences consider consistently recommended context cost–benefit analysis costs decision rule decision-theoretic decision-theoretic definition discount rate distinction economic emissions entails environmental policy epistemic values estimates ethical evidence example exponential discounting fully adequate version future harm condition Hartzell-Nichols Health Canada historical argument human health hypothesis incoherence inductive risk instance intergenerational impartiality interpretation justify knowledge condition maximin rule minimax regret Moreover Munthe non-epistemic values outcomes philosophical possible precaution precautionary principle predictive validity premise probabilities proposal pure time preference quantifiable quantitative Rawlsian rBST reason recommended precaution reference dose regulation reject relevant requires result risk analysis risk trade-off robust role Sandin scenario scientific uncertainty scientifically plausible scientists sequential plan Stern Review Sunstein Thalos theory Tickner toxic uncertainty factors value-free ideal values-in-science standard