»Du sollst nicht gefährden!«

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused millions of death cases and the respective interventions have led to isolation, psychiatric disorders, economic damages and other collateral damages. This paper analyses the decision-making process during the Covid-19 pandemic based on a risk-theoretic methodology. We develop a framework of analysing risks and apply it to the specific situation of this disease. It becomes obvious that human beings have limitations to perceive the fatal potential of a risk that is extremely low for the individual but high for the society as a whole. Based on a thorough risk-analysis, the commandment »You shall love your neighbour as yourself« (Mark 12:31) can be interpreted as »You shall not harm«. © 2022 by Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh.