The Chernobyl, Fukushima Daiichi and Deepwater Horizon Disasters from a Natural Science and Humanities Perspective (PDF)

In our everyday conceptions we use the laws of nature with their enormous possibilities of technical progress for the benefit of mankind. The catastrophes of Chernobyl (1986), Fukushima Daichii (2011) and in the Gulf of Mexico, explosion of the drilling platform Deepwater Horizon (2010), have shaken this world's view. Is it a matter of human or technical failure?

Humans strives to fulfill their intentions through purposeful action. How this usually happens can be explained by the example of the archer. He uses the cause-effect structure to achieve his goal to hit "into the bull's eye". The cause-effect structure for his action forms the causal chain, with the "Point of no Return" being extremely important for the action. This model from a scientific view can be compared the view from the humanities side as an crossing of the Rubicon river. This comparison leads to the questions: who is directing the human actions? Who is the scriptwriter on the stage of time and space?

The author

Dr. -Ing. Volker Hoensch studied mechanical engineering at the University of Stuttgart, majoring in nuclear energetics and thermal fluid machinery. In his professional career, he has been particularly involved in human reliability issues. He has made many contributions in this field, especially to the International Atomic Energy Agency at the United Nations.