| Democratizing Technology: Risk, Responsibility & the Regulation of Chemicals Contributor(s): Chapman, Anne (Author) |
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ISBN: 1844074218 ISBN-13: 9781844074211 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $171.00 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: September 2007 Annotation: From machine-like cities pulsing with roads, electricity grids and waste systems, to industrial-scale farming and GMOs, to chemical manipulation and annihilation of biodiversity, to climate change itself, the world is now???like never before???being physically made, destroyed and remade by humans and their technology. Yet who, if anyone, controls the development and use of technology? Focusing on the most widespread and persistent technology???chemicals???this groundbreaking volume peels apart the technology debate to look at the relationship between humans, technology and the earth. In addition to focusing on chemical technology and regulation in detail, the book provides a broad penetrating analysis and much-needed clarity and insight into the central science and technology debates at the heart of academic study, risk analysis and mitigation, as well as addressing the domestic and international law, regulation and policy that govern technology and thus our relationship with the material world. This book is vital, thought-provoking reading for everyone in science and technology research, development and study, business and industry and government and civil society involved in any way with using or perhaps abusing technology. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Public Policy - Environmental Policy - Science | Environmental Science (see Also Chemistry - Environmental) |
| Dewey: 363.179 |
| LCCN: 2007004092 |
| Series: Science in Society (Hardcover) |
| Physical Information: 0.75" H x 6.48" W x 9.1" (1.52 lbs) 192 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Democratizing Technology provides a much-needed fresh perspective on the regulation of chemicals, and an important contribution to green thinking about technology.Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP. This book is an excellent critique of the current risk-based approach to technology. By exploring the philosophical underpinnings and the practical applications of current policy on science and technology, Chapman exposes the serious flaws in allowing economic considerations to dominate the agenda in this area. Her proposals for reform are expertly constructed and deserve urgent and serious consideration by policy-makers.Dr Stuart Parkinson, Executive Director, Scientists for Global Responsibility. In this important book Anne Chapman argues that decisions about technology should answer a republican question: what kind of public world should we create through technology? Democratizing Technology deserves to be read widely. John ONeill, Professor of Political Economy, University of Manchester, UK A welcome addition to the new, more empirical and applied literature in philosophy of technology. This book will be essential reading for a variety of scholars and for the general reader intent on understanding, and criticizing, our chemically made world.Andrew Light, Interim Director, Program on the Environment, University of Washington, US What is technology? How do humans use it to build and modify the world? What are the relationships between technology, science, economics and democratic governance? What, if any, are our ethical and political responsibilities and choices in how we develop, deploy and control technology in democratic states? Democratizing Technology sets out to answer these questions. Focusing on the most widespread and pervasive technology - chemicals - this groundbreaking volume peels apart the critical technology debate to look at the relationship between humans, technology and the biological world. Attention is given to the immensely important new regulations, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals), the EUs largest ever legal framework, discussing the problems that are likely to occur in REACHs reliance on risk assessment methods and suggesting an alternative way forward for the regulation of chemicals. Providing much-needed clarity and insight into the heart of key debates in science and technology, risk analysis and mitigation, and domestic and international law, this volume arrives as a breath of fresh air. |