# Precautionary Principle **Domain:** Risk / Governance / Ethics **Doc Type:** Canonical Governance Node **Maturity:** Foundational ## Definition The **precautionary principle** holds that credible risk of serious or irreversible harm can justify protective action before complete scientific certainty exists. ## Evolutionary Nexus The Asilomar process in [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley]] operationalized uncertainty through temporary restraint and risk-tiered containment. ## Rights Context Precaution should be proportionate, revisable and evidence-seeking. It can protect vulnerable subjects, but vague precaution can also become a pretext for permanent suppression. Governance must specify the feared harm, evidentiary basis, review date and least-restrictive intervention. ## See Also [[wiki/Asilomar Conference|Asilomar Conference]], [[wiki/Precautionary Standing|Precautionary Standing]], [[wiki/AI Governance|AI Governance]], [[wiki/Rights|Rights]]