Precaution and Progress: Identifying Alternatives

Mark Jablonowski

Chapter 4 in Precautionary Risk Management, 2006, pp 51-76 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract The consistent application of precaution may lead to the dilemma of unacceptable expense, and eventual impasse (the “dilemma of precaution”). Reasonable precautions make sense, but limiting our precautionary approach in this fashion does not solve the catastrophe problem. A more far-reaching approach to precaution is needed. This approach requires a broader view of progress that depends on analyzing the potential paths of progress (be it economic, scientific or social) with an eye toward possible risks. It makes sense that genuinely effective precautions must occur before the potential for loss is realized. Applied in this manner, precaution may eliminate the activity before its creation leads to a paradoxical position in which we are essentially “stuck” with the activity, for better or for worse. Precaution in this sense is “anti-progress” only to the extent we have already made irreversible progress toward possible disaster.

Keywords: Risk Management; Statistical Risk; Insurance Premium; Risk Policy; Precautionary Approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-62765-9_4

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.palgrave.com/9780230627659

DOI: 10.1057/9780230627659_4

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Palgrave Macmillan Books from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().