The Limits of Precaution |
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Authors: | Sven Ove Hansson |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Philosophy, Uppsala University, Villav. 5, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden |
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Abstract: | The maximin rule can be used as a formal version of the precautionary principle. This paper evaluates the feasibility and
the intuitive plausibility of this decision rule. The major conclusions are: (1) Precaution has to be applied symmetrically.
(2) Precaution is only possible when outcomes are comparable in terms of value, so that it can be determined which outcome
is worst. (3) Precaution is sensitive to standards of possibility. Far-away scenarios have to be excluded, and it is difficult
to find a principled way to draw the line. (4) Precaution is sensitive to the framing of decision problems. Local cautiousness
may add up to global incautiousness.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Precautionary principle Cautiousness Maximin Minimax regret Regret |
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