SOC101Y1 Lecture Notes - Genetically Modified Crops, Ulrich Beck, Genetic Pollution
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SOC101
March 23rd, 2011
Sociology of the Environment
20th century divided into 2 periods:
1)Period before Hiroshima known as one of naïve optimism technology could do
no wrong
2)Post-war years, a growing number of citizens came to have doubts about the
benefits of technology many people are beginning to think of technology in terms of
skepticism
•Ulrich Beck: coined term that stuck in the early 90s when he introduced the
idea of a “risk society,” risk doesn’t just come from technological threats but from
environmental ones as well
•Environmental threats are ambiguous, unlike technological ones
Important Terms:
•Technology: is traditionally defined as the application of scientific principles to
the improvement of human life.
•Normal accident: term recognizes that the very complexity of modern
technologies ensures they will inevitably fail, though in unpredictable ways.
•Risk society: is a society in which technology distributes danger and advantage
among all social groups. Some categories are, however, more exposed than others.
There are dangerous risks of technological spin-offs:
•Ever since the Industrial Revolution humans have been burning many fossil fuels
accumulation of heat-trapping gas less heat escapes known as the
“greenhouse effect” that contributes to global warming (heating of the Earth’s
atmosphere)
•Last 3rd of the 20th century is when there is a take-off in the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
•There has been dramatic warming of the earth since the Industrial Revolution
(seen most dramatically in the North Pole)
•Consequences of global warming: More water evaporates more water in the
atmosphere increased rainfall & floods crops die, & people suffer
•Rising sea-levels 1m rise means that places such as Bangladesh & Egypt will
be completely flooded leading to displacement
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Document Summary
Period before hiroshima known as one of na ve optimism technology could do. 2) benefits of technology many people are beginning to think of technology in terms of skepticism. Post-war years, a growing number of citizens came to have doubts about the. Ul rich beck: coined term that stuck in the early 90s when he introduced the idea of a r isk society, r isk doesn"t just come from technological threats but from environmental ones as well. Technology: is traditionally defined as the application of scientific principles to. Normal accident: term recognizes that the very complexity of modern the improvement of human life. technologies ensures they will inevitably fail, though in unpredictable ways. among all social groups. Some categories are, however, more exposed than others. Risk society: is a society in which technology distributes danger and advantage. There are dangerous r isks of technological spin-offs: Ever since the industrial revolution humans have been burning many fossil fuels.