ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews three ideal type approaches, such as, technocratic, populist and participatory and argues that they are problematic given their understanding of values, intuitions and emotions as subjective, irrational or a-rational states. It provides the theoretical underpinnings for emotions in decision making about risk, for which broadening participatory approaches can be of major importance. Conventional approaches to risk analysis and risk management are based on technocratic, formal methodologies. These approaches define risk as the probability of an unwanted effect. Technocratic and populist approaches rest on the assumption that reason and science are categorically distinct from emotion and perception, with the latter being inferior. Participatory approaches to technology assessment aim to involve all stakeholders in decision making about risk in order to do justice to some different perspectives. The moral principles of autonomy and equality decree that the moral views of the public should be taken into account in decision-making procedures concerning the implementation of risky technologies.