An Introduction to the Axiology of Nuclear Energy

Abstract

Nuclear energy was developed during World War II and grew immensely within the era of the Cold War. After the Cold War came to an end during the early 1990s, those who benefited from the development of nuclear energy were most likely confronted with a challenge by a new tide of civilization. Although the challenge had not been closely questioned since then, such a new movement abruptly manifested itself after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. After these attacks, many began to realize that global circumstances, especially those concerned with global security, must have changed with the reordering of the world's basic structures that support political and economical developments. Here the world's basic structure is closely related with values, i.e., the system of values. This paper describes the thoughts that reveal the causes and the backgrounds of the events of September 11, the linkage to nuclear energy development, and nuclear civilization in pursuit of the future regime of nuclear energy's harmonization with the global society of the 21st century.

KEYWORDS:

• global security
• nuclear energy
• Atoms for Peace
• Cold War
• axiology
• dualism
• peaceful use
• the New World Order
• post 9/11
• nuclear terrorism
• WMD
• Design basis threat
• Dalai Lama