Modern German Philosophical and Sociological Sciences About the “Risk Society”

The article is devoted to the analysis of the ideas of a number of Austrian and German social philosophers on the problem of social risk, its correlation with danger taking into account the time component of decisions made under conditions of uncertainty. At the same time, it is important for the author to establish clear criteria for distinguishing between what depends on the actions of the person or community and what does not. On the one hand, we can talk about the risk, both justified and unjustified, and on the other hand, we mention the danger. It is the danger that is the opposite of stability, and the risk implies both, new chances and dangers that occur if actions have side effects that were not foreseen by the initiators of the actions. The differences in risk management on the part of those who make decisions and those whose interests are affected by these decisions are also analyzed. While the former may consider the situation as risky, the latter as dangerous due to the fact, that they do not have the ability to influence social processes. However, if decision-makers spread knowledge about the danger, delegate some of the resources and powers to overcome risks to society, then it will gradually learn flexible risk management, which implies a variety (and not rigidly fixed) ways of behavior. The society will also be able to take into account the mobile nature of the border separating risky behavior from dangerous: in what conditions and for whom the risk is justified, and for whom and when the danger occurs. Competent risk management leads to an increase in the reflexivity of society, which implies the creation of a favorable social environment for the spread of creativity. At the same time, each individual faces the task of constantly finding himself and self-development. It is reflexivity and creativity that allow society to get out of the state of stagnation, which is characterized by the primacy of the security mindset.