Regulators are not optimizers. - Max More
That's just one of many pithy statements heard at the geoethical nanotechnology workshop that Chris and I attended a few days ago.
Max's point is a good one. In CRN's "Three Systems of Action" paper, we outline how different sets of principles are applied by diverse groups under distinct circumstances.
Between Government/Guardian, Business/Commercial, and Open Source/Information, conflicting methods and goals are quite appropriate. In creating solutions that will optimize responsible deployment of exponential general-purpose molecular manufacturing while regulating safe use, these separate classes of groups all must be satisfied.
Maximum opportunity should be created and maintained for achieving the legitimate missions of all three groups, while avoiding situations where differing ethics or principles become pathologically mixed. This will not be an easy task.
Mike Treder
Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology future
Comments