Risk, Society and Ethics (SAM525)

The course explores concepts and theories related to risk as a social and political issue. It introduces and discusses fundamental principles of social science and philosophy, as well as approaches to risk across various disciplines. The course provides essential knowledge about risk, society, and ethics, highlighting the importance of understanding risk, safety, and security in contemporary society. Emphasizing key conceptual and empirical topics, it offers an introduction to the main theories of risk as a sociocultural concept, including notions of modernity and the implications of the ‘risk society.’ In addition, the course addresses ethics and ethical dilemmas associated with risk regulation and societal safety and security. Given the interdisciplinary nature of risk and safety studies, the course underscores the importance of integrating diverse scientific approaches. It focuses on concepts and frameworks for understanding the role of - and methods for uniting - various disciplines and perspectives.

The focus of the course is on how risk, societal safety, and security relate to the philosophy of social science.

The course provides a historical overview and introduces fundamental concepts in the philosophy of social science, risk, risk governance, and societal safety and security. Topics covered include key principles of the philosophy of social science, modernity, the risk society, governmentality, safety, and ethical dilemmas associated with risk and risk governance. The course also addresses ethics in risk management and risk governance, as well as general ethical principles. Furthermore, it discusses dilemmas in applying the precautionary principle in societal safety and security, along with both general and practical trade-offs between liberty and safety/security.

The course offers an overview of different approaches to risk and societal safety related to philosophical foundations. Issues covered include:

• actions, norms, and institutions
• explanation and understanding
• realism versus constructivism
• individual versus collective risk
• conceptual versus empirical perspectives on societal safety and security

Additionally, the course focuses on understanding risk, safety, and security in various institutional and organizational contexts. This includes discussions of human behavior, the governance of technological systems, and the regulation of social institutions. It also involves in-depth analyses of major contemporary crises and challenges, such as climate change and digitalization.

Upon completing the course, students will have acquired the following knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

• understand how social science philosophy relates to various approaches to risk and societal security and safety
• understand the relationship between explanation and understanding
• know how social science approaches to risk and security have developed historically in recent years
• have knowledge of how ethical norms and dilemmas relate to risk management and societal security

Skills

Connect various theories and concepts in risk and societal security and safety to fundamental principles in the philosophy of science, which means being able to explain:

• action theory, norms, and institutions
• realism and constructivism
• different explanatory models in social science theory
• early modernity, late modernity, and the risk society
• governance, regulation, and authority related to risk
• ethical behavior and dilemmas related to risk
• participate in theoretical discourses on risk and security

General Competence

Students who complete the course will be able to:

• update their knowledge of theories and concepts as well as research methodology and methods for studying risk, security and safety
• critically assess their own discipline
• be theoretically and methodologically prepared for their master’s thesis

Students must submit a written assignment individually or in groups of 2-4 students. Students are responsible for organizing their own groups. There will be six specified topics/assignments to choose from. The assignment must not exceed 6 pages (approximately 2200 words), excluding references. Appendices not allowed. Submission assignment. The assignment may be submitted in either Norwegian or English.

The course requirement is assessed as approved/not approved and must be approved to be admitted to the written exam.

The mandatory coursework requirements are only valid in the same semester as the examination is taken. Students who fail or wish to improve their grade must complete all mandatory coursework again the next time the course is offered with regular teaching.

If using artificial intelligence (AI) to help answer the assignment, the student must document this by completing and submitting a self-declaration form. If you submit text, calculations, or other material that is directly copied from an AI tool, this will be considered as presenting someone else’s work as your own, and therefore constitute academic misconduct.

Submission deadline: 1 november.