科技风险的社会建构

The Social Construction of Scientific and Technology Risks

科技是否具有风险性以及风险程度的高低是由科技与社会秩序之间的关系所确定的。科技的社会形象经历了从确定性到风险性的历史过程,是科技能够解决社会问题、实现社会承诺,到无法良好的实现社会角色、完成社会任务的过程。当代科技风险的普遍化和大众化,意味着科技风险超出个体层面,成为一种社会意象,必须在公共政策层面得到关注。政府对科技的关注需要从传统的科技能否促进社会发展和公众通过科技如何看待政府,扩展到规避科技风险与社会公平的良性循环。

Risk is a kind of value judgment on the degree of uncertainty,which is determined by the relationship between technology and social order.Throughout our history the social image of science and technology has gone from an image of certainty,in which it is viewed as capable of solving social problems,to being risky enough to fail its social commitments,incapable of accomplishing its social roles and tasks.The generalization and popularization of contemporary scientific and technological risks means that the risks of science and technology have exceed the individual level and have become an important social image need to be addressed at the public policy level.The government's focus on science and technology needs to be expanded from traditional static view,which emphasizes its role in promoting social development and its function in serving the government in public spheres,to a more dynamic view which is capable of avoiding technological risks and building a virtuous cycle for social equity.