Nanotechnology, aims, and values (original) (raw)
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Two Dimensions of the Ethical Problems Related to Nanotechnology
NanoEthics, 2009
The current literature on nanoethics focuses on a wide array of topics such as equity, privacy, military, environment, human enhancement, intellectual property, and security. The identification of those topics leads to the adoption of an ethical stance, which we call the in itself dimension. In this article we argue that even though it is correct to identify the areas where ethical problems are imperative to deal with (in itself dimension), it is a partial approach. This is because the in itself dimension pays no attention to another ethical stance; one that does not have anything to do with individual or collective responsibilities, but rather with the socio-economic system into which those responsibilities are embedded. We call this second issue the contextual dimension.
Nanotechnology: The Social and Ethical Issues
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson Center, 2009
Recent action in Congress to reauthorize the U.S. federal nanotechnology research program offers the chance to address the social and ethical issues concerning the emerging scientific field, experts say. “It is crucial to address social and ethical issues now as we consider both the substantial potential risks of nanotechnology and its possible significant contributions to our well-being and environmental sustainability,” says Ronald Sandler, Northeastern University philosophy professor and author of a new report funded by the Project and the National Science Foundation. The report emphasizes ways in which such topics intersect with governmental functions and responsibilities, including science and technology policy, as well as research funding, regulation and work on public engagement.
Nanotechnologies are considered to be one of the spearheads of emerging technologies. They are qualified by some as a new technological revolution, in the sense that they can change the way humans perceive ourselves and relate to our natural and social environments. If a human activity is thought to cause such revolutionary changes, it should be accompanied by a reflection. In order to give such a reflection an ethical dimension we need to fix a framework, a set of commonly accepted definitions of concepts and terminology. Questions like: «what does being nanotechnological mean?» do not seem satisfactorily answered, or the answers given to date do not seem to satisfy all stakeholders. We analyze the lacks in some of the definitions found in available literature. From this analysis, and taking as a basis the philosophical paradigm of epistemic realism, which we claim it could be adequate for ethics purposes, we go on to propose an approach which, we argue, could motivate further thinking on definitions that could serve ethics reflection on nanotechnologies.
—Nanotechnology has turned into the recent scientific lingo and swift innovation in this field are significantly impacting the courses in which we conceptualise the future and human capacity to control matter at the nuclear and atomic levels, by offering undreamt promises for scientific innovations. Since the merging of nanotechnology with biotechnology, data innovation, subjective science discipline has crafted and hold guarantee for the change of human enactment at various levels, hence 'social and ethical issues' turns into a repeating expression in the scientific group. Hence stakeholders paying consideration on nanotechnology innovation with a vital question: whether nanotechnology is demonstrating ethically and socially unique issues or the ethical and social issues are related to nanotechnology like other innovative technologies. The present article endeavours to comprehend the discussion over nanotechnology with respect to its potential advantages and the threat to the society. One view in this discussion is that nanotechnology has a progressive potential and will have huge financial advantages, while the another view is wary about its potential with regards to ethical and social issues and values, for example, equity and social justice. Finally, an attempt is made to find the variance in the societal and ethical issue in both, those who want to promote it and those who have fears about its potential. Thus this write-up adds the level headed discussions by investigating foundational issues about the relationship of ethics and nanotechnology.
The Convergence of Nanotechnology, Policy, and Ethics
Advances in Computers, 2007
This chapter reviews the role ethical and societal issues associated with nanotechnology have played in the development of national, and particularly US nanotechnology policies. The prominence of nanotechnology as a matter of national policy is significant, as is the attention being afforded to ethical and societal considerations. Notably, there is an emphasis on the early anticipation of societal dimensions of nanotechnology and of collaborative socio-technical integration during research and development activities. While these policies are fairly unprecedented and pose considerable challenges to the societal and technical researchers to whom the tasks of early integration may fall, there is reason to believe that continued efforts aimed at their implementation are likely. The chapter provides a brief history and explanation of the US nanotechnology "ethics policy" in reference to the discourse and concerns motivating policy makers. It then surveys some of the growing body of literature emerging around what has been termed nanoethics. This literature includes a similar emphasis on early and collaborative anticipation of the ethical and societal implications surrounding nanotechnology. Finally, the chapter identifies a list of fundamental tasks that would be necessary to address for the sake of developing the capacity of social and technical researchers to effectively engage in socio-technical integration. These tasks include defining the scope of nanoscale science and engineering subject to the ethics policy, and the interactions, responsibility, participation, and regulation envisioned or implied by the ethics policy under consideration. A few emerging cases of socio-technical collaborations are noted, and key statements made by congressional witnesses and others are cited. Throughout the chapter, an attempt is made to frame the statements within conceptual considerations drawn from the diverse contexts of nanotechnology, policy, and ethics.
Ethical Dimensions of Nanotechnology
2008
This brief paper introduces the subject of Nanotechnology and its ethical implications as an applied technology. It goes on to explore and present a blueprint for the theological, legal and ethical issues which Muslim scholars may need to address, as well as a framework through which scholars can determine relevant solutions.
Introduction: nanotechnology, society, and ethics
2008
Nanoethics, or the study of nanotechnology's ethical and social implications, is an emerging but controversial field. Outside of the industry and academia, most people are first introduced to nanotechnology through fictional works that posit scenarios���which scientists largely reject���of self-replicating ���nanobots��� running amok like a pandemic virus (Crichton, 2002).
Ethical considerations on nanotechnology
2018
Since a significant time ago, although time runs very fast, nanotechnology transformed from one of the most promising scientific hopes in uncountable human domains into a marvelous certainty. Innumerable scientific studies in several areas of knowledge were made since nanoscale emergence, carrying their contribution to the nanoscience development, leading to a great development of technical and scientific knowledge but also raising numerous problems in the ethical field. In this chapter, nanotechnology is discussed both in terms of ethics and in terms of borders that nanotechnology applications must satisfy and concluding notes are presented, highlighting the results of the analysis. Significant considerations are made on the close connection between ethics and the nanotechnology and the effects over the society and values.