The Ethics of Risk Ethical Analysis in an Uncertain World

When is it morally acceptable to expose others to risk? Most moral philosophers have had very little to say in answer to that question, but here is a moral philosopher who puts it at the centre of his investigations. Sven Ove Hansson shows why traditional moral theories are ill suited to deal with risk and uncertainty, and proposes new approaches that can do so much better. The book contains many examples that connect moral philosophy to the practical world of risk management in new ways. This is an important book for moral philosophers as it opens up a new area for ethical investigations. It is equally important for risk analysts and policy makers who need input from moral philosophy in order to deal with the difficult normative issues that arise in decision-making under risk and uncertainty.

Sven Ove Hansson is Professor in Philosophy at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. He has written extensively on the philosophy of risk, as well as ethics, decision theory and several other areas in philosophy. He is also active in interdisciplinary research co-operations relating to risk and safety. He is the author A Textbook of Belief Dynamics, The Structure of Values and Norms and Setting the Limit, as well as over 250 international refereed articles.

Preface
Introduction
PART I: WHY RISK IS A PROBLEM FOR ETHICS
1. The Uncertainties We Face
2. Difficulties for Moral Theories
3. Back to Basics
PART II: MAKING PRUDENT RISK DECISIONS
4. Reflecting on the Future
5. Thinking in Uncertain Terms
PART III: SOLVING CONFLICTS OF RISK
6. Fair Exchanges of Risk
7. Moral Excuses Under Scrutiny
References
Index