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Author

Lee R. Abramson

Credibility Rating

4/5
High(4)

High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.

Rating inherited from publication venue: Wiley Online Library

Foundational paper establishing formal quantitative framework for risk analysis using probability triplets and Bayes' theorem, providing mathematical foundations for risk assessment methodologies applicable to AI safety risk quantification.

Paper Details

Citations
2
Year
1981
Methodology
peer-reviewed
Categories
Risk Analysis

Metadata

journal articleprimary source

Summary

Kaplan and Garrick (1981) propose a foundational quantitative definition of risk based on the concept of a 'set of triplets,' establishing a formal framework for risk analysis. The paper extends this definition to incorporate uncertainty and completeness, utilizing Bayes' theorem for probabilistic reasoning. The authors apply their framework to discuss key concepts including relative risk, the relativity of risk across contexts, and the acceptability of risk, providing a mathematical foundation for systematic risk assessment that has become influential in the risk analysis field.

Cited by 1 page

PageTypeQuality
AI Risk Portfolio AnalysisAnalysis64.0

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[Risk Analysis](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15396924 "Risk Analysis homepage")

[Volume 1, Issue 1](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15396924/1981/1/1) pp. 11-27 [![Risk Analysis](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/journal-banners/15396924-1501384735593.jpg)](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15396924 "Risk Analysis homepage")

# On The Quantitative Definition of Risk

[Stanley Kaplan](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Kaplan/Stanley),

Stanley Kaplan

Kaplan & Associates, Inc., 17840 Skypark Blvd. Irvine, CA 92714.

[Search for more papers by this author](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Kaplan/Stanley)
[B. John Garrick](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Garrick/B.+John),

B. John Garrick

Pickard, Lowe and Garrick, Inc.

[Search for more papers by this author](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Garrick/B.+John)

[Stanley Kaplan](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Kaplan/Stanley),

Stanley Kaplan

Kaplan & Associates, Inc., 17840 Skypark Blvd. Irvine, CA 92714.

[Search for more papers by this author](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Kaplan/Stanley)
[B. John Garrick](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Garrick/B.+John),

B. John Garrick

Pickard, Lowe and Garrick, Inc.

[Search for more papers by this author](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Garrick/B.+John)

First published: March 1981

[https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1981.tb01350.xDigital Object Identifier (DOI)](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1981.tb01350.x)

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Kaplan, S. and Garrick, B.J. (1981), On The Quantitative Definition of Risk. Risk Analysis, 1: 11-27. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1981.tb01350.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1981.tb01350.x)

[![](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/specs/products/acropolis/pericles/releasedAssets/images/pdf-icon-169a2eb30e52100e76dfa5f4b66998e6.png)PDF](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1981.tb01350.x "ePDF")

### Abstract

A quantitative definition of risk is suggested in terms of the idea of a “set of triplets”. The definition is extended to include uncertainty and completeness, and the use of Bayes' theorem is described in this connection. The definition is used to discuss the notions of “relative risk”, “relativity of risk”, and “acceptability of risk”.

## References

- 1W. D. Rowe, An Anatomy of Risk (John Wiley & Sons,
New York
, 1977).





[Google Scholar](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/getFTRLinkout?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fscholar_lookup%3Fhl%3Den%26publication_year%3D1977%26author%3DW.%2BD.%2BRowe%26title%3DAn%2BAnatomy%2Bof%2BRisk&doi=10.1111%2Fj.1539-6924.1981.tb01350.x&linkType=gs&linkLocation=Reference&linkSource=FULL_TEXT)

- 2B. L. Cohen and
I-S. Lee, A Catalogue of Risks Conference Record, IEEE Standards Workshop on Human Factors and Nuclear Safety (1979).





[Google Scholar](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/getFTRLinkout?url=http%3A%2F%2

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