Risks - in technology, society and the mind

Modern risks are neither determined by scientific-technological factors alone, nor mere social construction, nor arbitrary subjective perception. The three sources of risk have been described and emphasised recently by the three sociologists Ulrich Beck, Anthony Giddens and Niklas Luhmann respectively. A comprehensive concept of risk capable of explaining the public perception and avoiding misunderstandings between safety experts and lay people must, however, consider and combine elements from all three. (author)