リスク論を軸とした科学技術倫理の基礎研究

In this program, firstly, we analyzed the ethical meanings of the methods of risk-benefit analysis used for the social problems about science and technology, and we investigated whether social equity is considered in this process. Second, ethical problems of science and technology, such as nanotechnology and GM crops, were analyzed from the point of the risk evaluation and the risk communication. Third, we studied about risk-theory from the points of philosophy of science, ethics, politics, and psychology in addition to it, we studied democratic decision-making model for risk management. Fourth, we tried to introduce the methods of risk evaluation in the education of engineer ethics.

We took the endocrine disturbing chemicals as an example, and confirmed that risk-theory based on the cost benefit analysis is employed as the means to justify technology for which people feel anxiety. Kuroda investigated material about social impacts of nanotechnology and considered their similarity with asbestos damages. Kurata studied ethical problems of GM crops, and confirmed that factors outside science play the important role in the argument about GM crops.

And as a theoretical study about risk theory, we studied philosophical, ethical, social and political implications of precautionary principle, and concluded that it has many aspects. We investigated a risk management in corporations (internal control). As a philosophical study, we worked on philosophical implications of probability and Bayesian principle, and we considered its meaning from the point of philosophy of science, and the rational decision-making under some risks from the point of psychology.

In risk assessments and democratic decision-makings, we confirmed that a democratic decision about risks is possible with participatory technology assessments and bidirectional communication. We exchanged information about education of engineer ethics, and tried to introduce such outcomes into engineer ethics education.