UvA-DARE is a service provided by the library of the University of Amsterdam (https://dare.uva.nl)
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository)
Practical wisdom in Risk Society. Methods and practice of interpretive analysis
on questions of sustainable development
Loeber, A.M.C.
Publication date
2004
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Loeber, A. M. C. (2004). Practical wisdom in Risk Society. Methods and practice of
interpretive analysis on questions of sustainable development.
General rights
It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s)
and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open
content license (like Creative Commons).
Disclaimer/Complaints regulations
If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please
let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material
inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: https://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter
to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You
will be contacted as soon as possible.
Contents s
Preface e
1.. Sustainable development as a challenge t o policy analysis Whyy sustainable development?
Thee challenging implications for the policy process Thee 'risk society' and the need for phronèsis Whyy Technology Assessment?
Outlinee of the book
2.. Exploring 'phronetic' TA: a research plan Thee rationale for the present study
Researchh objective and justification Researchh approach and questions Thee selected cases
3.. M e t h o d o l o g y and methods for TA on sustainable development issues aa conceptual lens
PhronèsisPhronèsis as a conceptual starting point in contemporary political thought InIn search for a methodical elaboration of the phronèsis concept
Inferencess of phronèsis for the methodology of TA
Fromm methodology to method: phronetic TA as constructivist inquiry Applicationn of constructivist inquiry to analysis on sustainable development Researchingg cases of interpretive TA on sustainable development issues
4 .. Clean laundry and clear water: the Phosphate Forum Thee policy context: water management in the Netherlands Thee innovation context: the detergent industry
Eventss leading up to the TA initiative Thee Phosphate Forum: an interpretive TA
Learningg and a change of plan: the project's impact? Dynamicss in the project's context
5-- A process t o 'illustrate' sustainable technology development:
thee case for Novel Protein Foods 141 Thee policy context: integration of environmental responsibility in economic activities 142
Eventss leading up to the TA initiative 147 Thee innovation context: protein research and the food industry 151
Thee illustrative process on NPFs: a 'multi-dimensional' analysis 155 Subtlee shifts in view and a new protein foods programme: the project's impact 180
Dynamicss in the project's context 192 Thee elusive relation between the NPF project and a future sustainable diet 195
6.. Sustainable crop p r o d u c t i o n : the Gideon project 207 Thee policy context: a tight knit network is loosening up 208 Pestt control, crop-protection and the environment: a new policy issue 212
Thee suggestion to conduct an interpretive TA on crop-protection 218
Thee Gideon project: an interpretive TA 221 AA review of the crop-protection policy: knowledge creep rather than impact 242
Dynamicss in the project's context 249 Gideonn and the crop-protection policy problem: an assessment's assessment 251
7.. C o n c l u s i o n s and d i s c u s s i o n 261
Recapitulationn 262 Threee examples of interpretive TA: a cross-case analysis 263
Organisingg an interpretive TA: lessons for the future 285
Suggestionss for further research 294
Epiloguee 297
Listt o f persons interviewed 299
Referencess 301 SamenvattingSamenvatting ( s u m m a r y in Dutch) 321
