Scientific Uncertainty and the Political Process

In this article, a notion of scientific uncertainty is sketched that is in many ways different from the prevailing view. Scientific uncertainty is not simply an objective value that can be reduced by science alone. Rather, scientific uncertainty is constructed both by science and by society in order to serve certain purposes. Recognizing the social role of scientific uncertainty will help us to see how many of our problems about risk are deeply cultural and cannot be overcome simply by the application of more and better science.