Citation

Stefanovic IL. Nat. Hazards 2003; 28(2-3): 229-247.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Natural hazards assessment, mitigation, research and decision making in the field have not typically been associated with the discipline of philosophy. Nevertheless, there is growing awareness that epistemological issues (regarding the nature of scientific knowledge, for instance) and ethical questions (for example, relating to responsibilities to future generations) can no longer be ignored. This paper explores how values and philosophical assumptions affect the way that we formulate natural hazards research questions; the methods that we choose to examine natural hazards and mitigation schemes; and, ultimately, how we interpret technical data. It concludes with the recommendation that human factors and qualitative methods of research can contribute in a meaningful way to advancing natural hazards research and decision making.

Language: en