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The Structure of Risk Communication

Vortrag beim internationalen Kongress "Systems Science 2000", Osnabrück, March 21-22, 2000

Summary

The scientific discourse on risk that has been carried out for many years now has drawn attention to the fact that the conventional concept of risk based on the product of probability and extent of damage is not applicable to the risk of modern technologies (genetic engineering). This is so because we are dealing with hypothe occurence of aecidents may be calculated in any exact sense in advance. In the form technically and ecologically induced risks uncertainty - in relation to the consequences - has become a basic contentions problems of a modern society as a. knowledge society. The structure of risk is discussed using the example of genetic engineering. The shape in which the reflection on impact itself becomes part of the decision is called risk. Through risky decisions, lack of knowledge is the basis for societal communication. Risk itself is a form of communication which is rich in preconditions. Risk is a challenge to calculate in the present an unknown future. Since the things that can happen depend on decisions to be taken in the present, there is a "multiple stage arrangement of contingency" (Luhmann): the possibility of damage is created incidentally, thus avoidably. Decisions under risk are paradox to the extent that they attempt to include the unknown in considerations. Decisions are to be made on matters, which, in principle, cannot be decided. We always speak of communication of risks whenever this construction is used to mark out the future and missing knowledge in situation requiring decisions. Decisions with regard to uncertainty can only be made as a part of social of progress or hypothetical situations. Processing uncertainty, ambiguity and impossibility is the most distinctive characteristic of future-oriented decision making and risk communication. In this presentation communicative strategies will be discussed which attempt to make this paradox no longer paradoxical.

Gotthard Bechmann
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe
Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung
und Systemanalyse (ITAS)
Postfach 3640
D-76021 Karlsruhe
   oder
Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1
D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 		Tel.: +49 (0) 721 / 608 - 22705
Fax: +49 (0) 721 / 608 - 24806

Internet: Homepage von Gotthard Bechmann

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