Anticipation in the quest for responsible innovation: Gradients of ethico-political radicality

Anticipation has emerged over the past two decades as a fundamental tool for various normative frameworks to promote more socio-politically responsible governance of science, technology, and innovation. However, theoretical considerations and reflections on the meaning and scope of anticipation have received far less attention than its repeated invocation would seem to warrant. This article seeks to advance the theoretical-conceptual treatment of anticipation. First, it explores the connections between the ways of thinking about and using the future and the domains of science, technology, and innovation that are considered the object of ethical-political problematisation. The article then evaluates each of these forms of anticipatory articulation of responsibility on the basis of their respective ethical-political radicality.