Page 209 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

10 Life Cycle Impact Assessment 195

Table 10.2 Cultural perspectives represented by preference with coherent choices (Hofstetter
1998)
Time perspective Manageability Required level of
evidence
H (Hierarchist) Balance between short Proper policy can avoid Inclusion based on
and long term many problems consensus
I (Individualist) Short term Technology can avoid Only proven effects
many problems
E (Egalitarian) Very long term Problems can lead to All possible effects
catastrophe

Nature capricious Nature Perverse/Tolerant
(Fatalist’s View) (Hierarchist’s View)

Nature Benign Nature Ephemeral
(Individualist’s View) (Egalitarian’s View)
Fig. 10.3 Different archetypal perceptions of nature [adapted from Thompson (1990)]

assumptions made in the characterisation modelling and in the development of a set
of consistent weighting factors for each archetype.
The different archetypal views on nature and the related risk perceptions are
illustrated in Fig. 10.3. The dot represents the state of nature as a rolling ball,
shifted by human activities along the curve representing nature’s reaction to a shift.
Its position in the figures indicates the state of harmony between humans and nature
according to the four archetypal views.

10.3.3 Grouping

This step consists in placing the impact categories in one or several groups or
clusters (as defined in goal and scope) and can involve sorting or ranking, applying
one of two possible methods: