Trans-Science

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Trans-Science is a term introduced by Alvin M. Weinberg in a much-cited essay in 1972 to designate areas of responsibility of scientists who are in themselves the subject of natural science because they relate to facts, but whose questions can ultimately not be answered by it. They would, therefore, the exact scientific research trans zendieren.

Weinberg's aim was to clarify the relationship between science and politics, especially against the background of assessing technology risks. Weinberg cites the biological effects of low doses of ionizing radiation as an example . Even with an astronomical number of animal experiments, no reliable statements could be made about the exact effects. Similar problems would arise with the scientific prediction of very unlikely events or complex phenomena in the social sciences. Furthermore, decisions about setting scientific priorities and research agendas would have a trans-scientific character as questions of value. Harvey Brooks extended the theory to systems that are determined by large classes of nonlinear equations.

Consequently, the treatment of many questions in the area of ​​risk assessment and technology development should be opened to public discourse. In this respect, laypeople should also be admitted to the “Republic of Science”. However, natural scientists still have a special position, because only they can precisely draw the line between scientific and trans-scientific questions. The problem of trans-scientific questions is often raised in connection with the precautionary principle .

The research field of technology assessment pursues a modern and systematic approach to the questions raised by trans-science (also: technology assessment or technology assessment )

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See Current Contents Vol. 34 (1991), p. 18 (Alvin M. Weinberg: Origins of Science and Trans-Science), PDF
  2. ↑ Alvin M. Weinberg: “Science and Trans-Science”  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Minerva 10 (1972), pp. 209-222.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.greenchemistryandsustainabledesign.org  
  3. ↑ Alvin M. Weinberg: Origins of Science and Trans-Science, 34 CC (1991), p. 18. ( PDF )
  4. ↑ Harvey Brooks, "Science and Trans-Science" - Letter to the Editor, Minerva 10 (1972), pp. 484-486.
  5. ↑ Michael Polanyi , The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory, Minerva 1: 54-74.

literature

Alvin M. Weinberg, Science and Trans-Science, Minerva 10 (1972), pp. 209-222.