Worst-case Scenarios
by Cass R. Sunstein /
2007 / English / PDF
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Listen to a short interview with Cass Sunstein Host: Chris Gondek
| Producer: Heron & Crane Nuclear bombs in suitcases, anthrax
bacilli in ventilators, tsunamis and meteors, avian flu,
scorchingly hot temperatures: nightmares that were once the plot
of Hollywood movies are now frighteningly real possibilities. How
can we steer a path between willful inaction and reckless
overreaction?
Listen to a short interview with Cass Sunstein Host: Chris Gondek
| Producer: Heron & Crane Nuclear bombs in suitcases, anthrax
bacilli in ventilators, tsunamis and meteors, avian flu,
scorchingly hot temperatures: nightmares that were once the plot
of Hollywood movies are now frighteningly real possibilities. How
can we steer a path between willful inaction and reckless
overreaction?
Cass Sunstein explores these and other worst-case scenarios and
how we might best prevent them in this vivid, illuminating, and
highly original analysis. Singling out the problems of terrorism
and climate change, Sunstein explores our susceptibility to two
opposite and unhelpful reactions: panic and utter neglect. He
shows how private individuals and public officials might best
respond to low-probability risks of disaster--emphasizing the
need to know what we will lose from precautions as well as from
inaction. Finally, he offers an understanding of the uses and
limits of cost-benefit analysis, especially when current
generations are imposing risks on future generations.
Cass Sunstein explores these and other worst-case scenarios and
how we might best prevent them in this vivid, illuminating, and
highly original analysis. Singling out the problems of terrorism
and climate change, Sunstein explores our susceptibility to two
opposite and unhelpful reactions: panic and utter neglect. He
shows how private individuals and public officials might best
respond to low-probability risks of disaster--emphasizing the
need to know what we will lose from precautions as well as from
inaction. Finally, he offers an understanding of the uses and
limits of cost-benefit analysis, especially when current
generations are imposing risks on future generations.
Throughout, Sunstein uses climate change as a defining case,
because it dramatically illustrates the underlying principles.
But he also discusses terrorism, depletion of the ozone layer,
genetic modification of food, hurricanes, and worst-case
scenarios faced in our ordinary lives. Sunstein concludes that if
we can avoid the twin dangers of over-reaction and apathy, we
will be able to ameliorate if not avoid future catastrophes,
retaining our sanity as well as scarce resources that can be
devoted to more constructive ends.
Throughout, Sunstein uses climate change as a defining case,
because it dramatically illustrates the underlying principles.
But he also discusses terrorism, depletion of the ozone layer,
genetic modification of food, hurricanes, and worst-case
scenarios faced in our ordinary lives. Sunstein concludes that if
we can avoid the twin dangers of over-reaction and apathy, we
will be able to ameliorate if not avoid future catastrophes,
retaining our sanity as well as scarce resources that can be
devoted to more constructive ends.