A wide-raging exploration of the place of uncertainty in our emotional and political lives.
From climate change to the pandemic uncertainty looms large over our public and personal
lives. It is also the core feature of democratic life: while democratic governance seemingly
heightens individual power it exposes our life chances to the uncertain activity of others. We
do not exercise control over those to whom we appeal and yet we are constantly dependent on
their actions for the goods in life we seek. Sheila Jasanoff opens a forum on uncertainty and
democracy in this volume arguing that ideas around our autonomy our freedom and our
individual agency particularly in the US obscure our dependence on others in so many ways. To
recognize this political emotion is to start to see the transformative potential in
uncertainty. The debate that follows explores the ideas about uncertainty and experts in a
democracy as well its scientific philosophic and emotional aspects.
