The Risk Society and Beyond and Other Materials

At the very beginning of our Ethics and Sustainability lecture series, we came across briefly a book titled ‘The Risk Society and Beyond’ by Ulrich Becks. In this book, Beck challenges the social science tradition and interesting debates on contemporary social theories, in particular socio-politics and socio-scientific issues in reference to recent development on nuclear, genetic, reproductive and communication technology.

Here are a few quotes from the book and other materials that have interested me and lead me to more research and I also hope this will sparks some creative thinking amongst our year group.

‘In a risk society, we want to argue, even the most restrained and moderate-objectivists account of risk implications involves a hidden politics, ethics and morality.’
The Risk Society and Beyond by Ulrich Beck, P1

‘The essence of risk is no that it is happening, but it might be happening. Risks are manufactured, not only through the application of technology, but also in the making of sense and by the technological sensibility of a potential harm, danger or threat.’
The Risk Society and Beyond by Ulrich Beck, P2

‘Cultural differences may even extend to the way people wield logic. Chinese people are happier with contradictions and try to find a middle ground between the two opposing positions, while Americans are more inclined to reject one proposition for the other’
Ed Yong, 7 March 2009 NewScientist 33

Sourced by Desmond Wong