Precautionary Principle
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
When an action may cause serious or irreversible harm, even if the causal relationship is not fully scientifically established, precautionary measures should be taken. The burden of proof lies in proving safety, not danger.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Bias toward safety under uncertainty. This is the opposite of "presumption of innocence" — for potential major harms, it is better to mistakenly judge as dangerous (incurring costs) than to mistakenly judge as safe (incurring catastrophe).
Anchor fast decisions
When an action may cause serious or irreversible harm, even if causation is not fully proven, precaution should be taken. The burden of proof is reversed — the actor must prove "safety," not the skeptic must prove "danger." Essentially, it is an asymmetry in risk preference: better to mistakenly judge as dangerous (costly) than to mistakenly judge as safe (catastrophic).
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principleverified
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