Precautionary Principle

The false idea that it is a priori better to err on the side of stasis over change; the pessimistic idea that we should never do anything new because we don't know how harmful unintended consequences will be.

The precautionary principle is profoundly unsafe. Stasis itself produces Suffering and death — the risks of inaction are at least as great as the risks of action. Only Knowledge growth through Error Correction can reduce danger.

Connections

• •A form of Pessimism — assuming the worst about change
• •Produces Stasis — which is itself dangerous
• •Opposed by The Principle of Optimism — all problems are solvable through knowledge
• •Ignores that inaction has consequences too
• •Incremental change addresses the legitimate concern about reversibility
• •Blocks Progress and Error Correction
• •Related to Spaceship Earth — both assume the status quo is safe