Description

The proliferation of chemical substances in commerce poses scientific and philosophical problems. The scientific challenge is to develop data, methodologies, and techniques for identifying and assessing toxic substances before they cause harm to human beings and the environment. The philosophical problem is how much scientific information we should demand for this task consistent with other social goals we might have. In this book, Cranor utilizes material from ethics, philosophy of law, epidemiology, tort law, regulatory law, and risk assessment, to argue that the scientific evidential standards used in tort law and administrative law to control toxics ought to be evaluated with the purposes of the law in mind. Demanding too much for this purpose will slow the evaluation and lead to an excess of toxic substances left unidentified and unassessed, thus leaving the public at risk. Demanding too little may impose other costs. An appropriate balance between these social concerns must be found. Justice requires we use evidentiary standards more appropriate to the legal institutions in question and resist the temptation to demand the most intensive scientific evaluation of each substance subject to legal action.

Reviews

"An important contribution to the interdisciplinary review of public policy, primarily in its examination of the assumptions and implications of contemporary risk assessment practices in judicial and regulatory settings."--Ethics

"The author is uniquely qualified to examine these issues....In addition to developing his own view, the author provides a wealth of historical information about how risk has been managed in our society. Highly recommended for both academics who study risk and professionals who perform and implement risk analyses."--Choice

"Strong in its analysis of science, law, and philosophy, Cranor compellingly demonstrates that the amount of science required in public decisions about toxic substances is an important philosophical issue. This book should both help clarify the debate about toxic substance and restore ethical reasoning to its central place of importance in public discourse about the hazards of toxic substances."--Environmental Law Forum

"A detailed and absorbing piece of research that demonstrates the immense practical importance of ethical theories."--Times Higher Education Supplement

"An interesting vantage point from which readers are challenged to reflect on many socially important risk management issues. For that reason, his analysis is useful and well worth careful study."--Risk: Health, Safety & Environment

Product Details

272 pages; 15 line illus.; 6-1/8 x 9-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-507436-9ISBN10: 0-19-507436-X

About the Author(s)