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Risk in the Modern Age

Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision-Making

  • Book
  • © 2000

Overview

Editors:
  1. Maurie J. Cohen

    1. Oxford Centre for the Environment, Ethics and Society Mansfield College, Oxford University, UK
      Environmental Studies Program, Binghamton University, USA

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Environmental Sociology, Social Theory, and Risk: an Introductory Discussion

      • Maurie J. Cohen
      Pages 3-31

  3. Critiques of Risk and Rationality

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 33-33
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    2. The Rational Actor Paradigm in Risk Theories: Analysis and Critique

      • Ortwin Renn, Carlo C. Jaeger, Eugene A. Rosa, Thomas Webler
      Pages 35-61

    3. Menus of Choice: the Social Embeddedness of Decisions

      • Kristen Purcell, Lee Clarke, Linda Renzulli
      Pages 62-79

  4. Theoretical Extensions of the Risk Society

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 81-81
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    2. Dealing with Environmental Risks in Reflexive Modernity

      • Joris Hogenboom, Arthur P. J. Mol, Gert Spaargaren
      Pages 83-106

    3. The ‘Risk Society’ Reconsidered: Recreancy, the Division of Labor, and Risks to the Social Fabric

      • William R. Freudenburg
      Pages 107-120

  7. Conclusion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 249-249
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    2. A Historical Perspective on Risk

      • David Lowenthal
      Pages 251-257

  8. Back Matter

    Pages 258-264
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About this book

Environmental decision-making in recent decades has become increasingly dependent on scientific expertise. Grounded in universal principles of knowledge, these expert evaluations often depart from the assessments of ordinary members of the public. Whether the issue is nuclear power, genetic testing, food safety, or biodiversity, conservation lay people are increasingly charging experts with being ignorant of local contextual considerations. Scientists, as well as many policy-makers, in turn contend that the public is hopelessly irrational in gauging environmental risks. A growing group of social theorists has begun to take a keen interest in these disputes because risk captures central themes of late modernity. Increasing individualization, emerging new social movements, and declining public trust in key institutions are notions that loom large in these debates. Highlighting both theoretical and empirical perspectives, this volume brings together a distinguished group of environmental sociologists who critique and extend current thinking on what it means to live in a 'risk society'.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Oxford Centre for the Environment, Ethics and Society Mansfield College, Oxford University, UK

    Maurie J. Cohen

  • Environmental Studies Program, Binghamton University, USA

    Maurie J. Cohen

About the editor

Maurie J. Cohen is Research Fellow in Environmental Risk at the Oxford Center for the Environment, Ethics and Society, Mansfield College.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Risk in the Modern Age

  • Book Subtitle: Social Theory, Science and Environmental Decision-Making

  • Editors: Maurie J. Cohen

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-62201-6

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History Collection, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2000

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-312-22216-1Published: 12 February 2000

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-349-62201-6Published: 12 June 2019

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 264

  • Topics: Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary

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