10
2 Technology, Risk, Precaution, and Sustainability
The present state of technology would be inconceivable without the development
of science. Modern technology is the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes to support human life. From this perspective, nature is available
to satisfy human needs through the use of tools and processes.
With the ongoing development of technology, the focus to meet human needs
(or desires) has become even greater, and as a consequence, also the complexity
of new technology and its implementation and widespread use has increased. Some
examples of technologies used today for the production of chemical products are:
• Chemical technology used for product manufacture through reactive conversion,
including the control and handling of toxic, flammable, and corrosive chemicals
• Process technology used for the industrial production of substances by technical
methods such as fractionated distillation or real-time monitoring and advanced
treatment of wastewater
• Safety and environmental technology used for proactive risk reduction, such
as inherently safe process conditions (low pressure and temperature, reactions
facilitated by high-performance catalysts, etc.)
2.2
Impacts of Technology
2.2.1 Ambivalence of Technical Progress
In addition to improving the quality of life for humans, the technologization of the
world is also associated with problems. For example, it:
• Allows for a concentration of power with subsequent global economic, ecological, and social imbalances
• Stimulates demands and wishes without consideration for compromise and
alignment
• Creates new dangers and risks that often emerge from unintended and unforeseen
side effects
• Causes strong impacts on the natural environment through the extraction of
resources and the release of waste
• Leads to a lack of orientation within, and understanding of, the complexity of
modern societies
Technical progress is associated with uncertainties. The increase of prosperity
that springs from technical progress is connected with new hazards, dangers, and
damages. Within the context of chemical processes and products, a hazard is an
inherent property of a substance or situation with the potential to cause harm. A
damage is the impairment of the inherent qualities of a protected good, which are
valued subjects, resources, or conditions such as humans, the environment, property,
etc. A danger is defined as a situation or circumstance in which damage may occur.
2 Technology, Risk, Precaution, and Sustainability
The present state of technology would be inconceivable without the development
of science. Modern technology is the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes to support human life. From this perspective, nature is available
to satisfy human needs through the use of tools and processes.
With the ongoing development of technology, the focus to meet human needs
(or desires) has become even greater, and as a consequence, also the complexity
of new technology and its implementation and widespread use has increased. Some
examples of technologies used today for the production of chemical products are:
• Chemical technology used for product manufacture through reactive conversion,
including the control and handling of toxic, flammable, and corrosive chemicals
• Process technology used for the industrial production of substances by technical
methods such as fractionated distillation or real-time monitoring and advanced
treatment of wastewater
• Safety and environmental technology used for proactive risk reduction, such
as inherently safe process conditions (low pressure and temperature, reactions
facilitated by high-performance catalysts, etc.)
2.2
Impacts of Technology
2.2.1 Ambivalence of Technical Progress
In addition to improving the quality of life for humans, the technologization of the
world is also associated with problems. For example, it:
• Allows for a concentration of power with subsequent global economic, ecological, and social imbalances
• Stimulates demands and wishes without consideration for compromise and
alignment
• Creates new dangers and risks that often emerge from unintended and unforeseen
side effects
• Causes strong impacts on the natural environment through the extraction of
resources and the release of waste
• Leads to a lack of orientation within, and understanding of, the complexity of
modern societies
Technical progress is associated with uncertainties. The increase of prosperity
that springs from technical progress is connected with new hazards, dangers, and
damages. Within the context of chemical processes and products, a hazard is an
inherent property of a substance or situation with the potential to cause harm. A
damage is the impairment of the inherent qualities of a protected good, which are
valued subjects, resources, or conditions such as humans, the environment, property,
etc. A danger is defined as a situation or circumstance in which damage may occur.