*Beyond calculation - Climate Engineering risks from a social sciences perspective * http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/ojs/index.php/forum-mk/article/view/9408
The use of the term "social sciences" interesting in this context. Science is characterized by hypothesis testing, reproducibility, falsifiability, questions that have answers that are independent of values,etc. There are many valuable studies that are not scientific studies. For example, this workshop had a focus on "legitimacy of various climate intervention techniques". This question of legitimacy is fundamentally not a scientific question, although scientific facts are certainly relevant. Establishing whether some activity is or is not legitimate is fundamentally not a "social science" investigation, although there are social science investigations that may be relevant. I recently had an extended visit to the "Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies" in Potsdam. http://www.iass-potsdam.de/ The use of the word "Studies" instead of "Science" in the institutional name was I believe a thoughtful one, as there are important studies (e.g., of human institutions, of history, of ethical reasoning) that are critically important and relevant, but are not science -- and it is a mistake to pretend that this important work constitutes scientific study. Let's heed the call for increased emphasis on social studies, but let's not fall into the trap of believing that the only valuable mode of social study is social science. Social science is but one mode of investigation into social systems, and thus represents but one mode of social study. On Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 1:44 AM, Andrew Lockley <[email protected]>wrote: > http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/ojs/index.php/forum-mk/article/view/9408 > > Beyond calculation - Climate Engineering risks from a social sciences > perspective > > Dorothee Amelung, Wolfgang Dietz, Hannes Fernow, Daniel Heyen, David > Reichwein, Thielo Wiertz > > Abstract > > Decisions in the context of Climate Engineering (CE), the deliberate > large-scale manipulation of the Earth’s climate, are decisions made under > uncertainty. CE options are associated with a broad range of environmental > and societal risks that raise complex questions: How can the risks be > assessed and evaluated when balanced against the risks of alternative > strategies to counteract climate change? What are the strategic > implications for climate politics against the background of insufficient > scientific knowledge? Can we estimate the ethical implications of the risks > involved for society? Uncertainties and risks represent a central aspect of > the issue but cannot be reduced to the traditional technical orientation of > risk terminologies. The article elaborates on the specific characteristics > of the risks and uncertainties associated with CE technology from six > different disciplinary viewpoints. It thereby seeks to reveal chances for a > mutual enrichment of these individual viewpoints since each discipline > experiences boundaries while examining the complex risks of CE. In this > way, the article redefines disciplinary boundaries without entirely > dissolving them and without disregarding the valuable contribution every > individual viewpoint can make. This aim is realized by means of the > identification of new approaches to central questions regarding the risks > and uncertainties involved in CE that can only be addressed from an > interdisciplinary perspective > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "geoengineering" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en.
