On the epistemology of risk: language, logic and social science

'Risk' is a widely used concept in literatures related to health, health care and medicine. In recent decades, three bodies of literature have emerged in which 'risk' is the primary focus of concern: Health Risk Appraisal, the Risk Approach and Risk Analysis/Assessment/Management. These literatures overlook important concepts and theoretical developments in contemporary social science. They also lack conceptual coherence. Reduction of incoherence will require re-examination of the epistemology of risk in relation to both its language and its logic in light of developments in social science.