Much of my career, as a Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, has been about risk management.
So I was interested to see this paper on "the precautionary principle".
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11319454/
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So I was interested to see this paper on "the precautionary principle".
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11319454/
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The precautionary principle seems unarguable, doesn't it? If it might be risky, don't…
But in practice, people often look at the risk that interests them. Head injuries from cycling. GI infections from streams. Zoonoses from pets or farm animals.
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But in practice, people often look at the risk that interests them. Head injuries from cycling. GI infections from streams. Zoonoses from pets or farm animals.
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You can end up with disproportionate and even harmful responses.
Put people off cycling and you reduce all the benefits from cycling and do, overall, more harm.
Ban pets and - well,, there'd be a rebellion.
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Put people off cycling and you reduce all the benefits from cycling and do, overall, more harm.
Ban pets and - well,, there'd be a rebellion.
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Stop visits to petting farms or keep the animals so remote they're not interesting…
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You get the picture.
We have to mitigate risks, and reduce them where we can. An egg or a carrot which isn't contaminated with poisons or pathogens tastes just as good; but trying to eliminate all risks is bad for your phy and mental health.
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We have to mitigate risks, and reduce them where we can. An egg or a carrot which isn't contaminated with poisons or pathogens tastes just as good; but trying to eliminate all risks is bad for your phy and mental health.
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It occurred to me that pet ownership might be a useful metaphor for teaching these concepts. Look at the risks (zoonoses, injuries…) of pet ownership, the benefits, and the way to mitigate risks to a level you (and society) can accept.
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Is anyone taken {or been aware of others taking) this approach to reaching about risk, risk mitigation, and proportionality?
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