Is the Precautionary Principle a Midlevel Principle?

Abstract

In this article, we defend two claims about the precautionary principle. The first is that there is no core' precautionary principle that unifies all its different versions. It is more plausible to think of the different versions as being related to each other by way of family resemblances. So although precautionary principle x may have much in common with precautionary principle y, and y with z, there is no set of necessary and sufficient conditions that unify all versions of the principle. Our second claim is that it is sometimes appropriate to think of the precautionary principle as a midlevel principle in the sense proposed by Beauchamp and Childress in their Principles of Biomedical Ethics, i.e. as a non-rigid moral principle. We argue that if the precautionary principle is conceived as a non-rigid principle that needs to be balanced against other principles before a moral verdict can be reached, then this enables us to address some standard objections to the principle.

Published in

Ethics, Policy and Environment
2019, volume: 22, number: 1, pages: 34-48

SLU Authors

• Sandin, Per

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Mistra Biotech

UKÄ Subject classification

Ethics

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2019.1581417

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/103154