Technology assessment and postnormal science

Since the 1970’ies, a central tool to convey policy advice on technological matters has been Technology Assessment (TA). Many different TA models exist, and this paper provides and overview of some important ones: Normal TA, Rational TA, Ethical TA, Hermeneutical TA, Participatory TA, and Constructivist TA. A central question investigated here is how existing TA models relates to Postnormal Science (PNS). An important output is a comparison of how the presented TA models engage with PNS sensitivities that are translated into a format that supports the comparison: Uncertainty management is translated into an outline of whether the TA models relate to existing, near or distant future technologies where uncertainties are typically low, medium, or high. High decision stakes are translated into an overview of which stakeholder roles are invited into the TA process, and how the different TA models scaffold work across interests and perspectives through work in different forms of Extended peer communities. The comparison also addresses how ethics is addressed in the TA-models. In conclusion it is argued that it is not possible to link one TA model to PNS and to say that one TA model is postnormal. Postnormal TAs will be set up from case to case picking and collecting inspiration from different TA models. • The paper provides a comparison of six technology assessment (TA) models: Normal TA, Rational TA, Ethical TA, Hermeneutical TA, Participatory TA, and Constructivist TA. The TA models are compared as to how they align with postnormal science sensitivities. • It is argued that it is not possible to link only one TA model to postnormal science and to say that one TA model is postnormal. Postnormal TA will be set up from case to case by picking and collecting inspiration from different TA models. • Postnormal TA begins with an overall ethical discussion of whether it is desirable to pursue the technology. The ethical discussion is suggested to take place within extended peer communities. • Discussions of techno-ethical dilemmas in postnormal TA will be more fruitful if they involve a focus on (imagined) wider implications, arguments pro et contra , transparent stakes, and uncertainty estimates.