Citation

Huffman JL. Int. J. Mass Emerg. Disasters 1989; 7(3): 329-347.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, International Sociological Association, International Research Committee on Disasters)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

This paper examines the problem of taxonomy in disaster research from the point of view of a lawyer who makes no claims to being a social scientist. It reflects the perspective of one who has been, for over a decade, what sociologists once called a participant observer of disaster research. My perspective, no doubt, is influenced by my rejection of the idea that law is itself a science. From this point of view, the taxonomy of disaster research is not a problem for purely legal inquiry. I do not reject, however, that a taxonomy could be helpful to our understanding of law as a social institution. I will no doubt have ventured beyond my expertise, but perhaps any naivete will be offset by the benefits of a fresh perspective.

Language: en