Nanotechnology Ethics

I'm a volunteer for Allexperts.com, "the oldest and largest free Q&A service on the Internet." People write in to ask questions about nanotechnology, and if I can, I'll give them an answer.

Recently someone asked: "What are the moral issues of nanotechnology?"

Here is how I replied:

'Moral' is a loaded word, one that has different meanings for people depending upon their specific culture or belief system. So, I rarely speak about moral issues, but I often do write and talk about ethical issues.

For example:

- What are the acceptable limits of nanotechnology use that can be imposed to prevent dangerous concentrations of power in nations, groups, or persons?

- How much can individual freedom be curtailed before the solution becomes worse than the problem?

- How can any group or organization be given power to globally regulate the use of nanotechnology without also giving that group the power to dominate the world?

- What efforts should be made, if any, to assure that the opportunity for unprecedented abundance is made available to all?

- If nanotechnology and bioengineering enable extreme augmentation of humans, at what point do transformed individuals cease being human?

These are the types of questions that must be addressed.

For further reading, try:

"Asking the Right Questions" (More ethical questions)
"Three Systems of Action" (Applying ethics to nanotech)

Mike Treder

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Comments

[aishwarya.r]

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