Technologies of humility: Citizen participation in governing science

Abstract

Building on recent theories of science in society, such as that provided by the the “Mode 2” framework, this paper argues that governments should reconsider existing relations among decision- makers, experts, and citizens in the management of technology. Policy-makers need a set of ‘technologies of humility’ for systematically assessing the unknown and the uncertain. Appropriate focal points for such modest assessments are framing, vulnerability, distribution, and learning.