COGNITION OF CONSEQUENCES - SCIENCE ASSESSMENT AS SELF-REFLECTION OF SCIENCE

Following Beck's concept of reflective modernization, the conditions and possibilities of timely anticipation and prevention of non-intended consequences in science and technology are explored. Starting with the assumption that technology-assessment often comes ''too late'', i.e. meets with already firmly established actor coalitions, settled investions and accomplished damages, it seems necessary to bring forward the reflection about non-intended consequences into earlier stages of research and development. Based on two historical examples of risk perception development, a research program is outlined which should allow to examine and to systematize already existing and still conceivable approaches to both disciplinary and interdisciplinary self-reflection of science. The author discusses the social and cognitive problems that impede an early recognition of non-intended consequences. At the same time, developments in the interaction of science and society are highlighted which nevertheless make the realization of an earlier knowledge of non-intended consequences conceivable.