The precautionary principle and the autonomy of science

Abstract

The Precautionary principle recommends taking special precautions, and conducting detailed and farreaching research on the potential risks of technoscientific innovations, before implementing them. Its use is defended against the charge that it threatens the autonomy of science. On the contrary, I argue, it actually serves to counter current distortions of scientific practices that follow from their having been subordinated to commercial and political values.

Precautionary principle; Risks; Transgenics; Agroecology; Decontextualized approach; Technoscience; Autonomy of science; Objectivity; Neutrality