Nanoethics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Nanotechnology is a new anthology edited by Fritz Allhoff, Patrick Lin, James Moor, and John Weckert. A chapter on "Challenges and Pitfalls in Exponential Manufacturing" was authored by Mike Treder and Chris Phoenix, co-founders of CRN.
Here is the complete table of contents:
Foreword: Ethical Choices in Nanotechnology Development (Mihail C. Roco).1. Introduction: The Nanotechnology Debate.
1.1 What is Nanotechnology and Nanoethics (Patrick Lin and Fritz Allhoff)?
1.2 Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us (Bill Joy).
1.3 On the National Agenda: US Congressional Testimony on the Societal Implications of Nanotechnology (Ray Kurzweil).
2. Background: Nanotechnology in Context.
2.0 Unit Introduction (John Weckert).
2.1 Nanotech's Promise: Overcoming Humanity's More Pressing Challenge (Christine Peterson and Jacob Heller).
2.2 Debating Nanotechnologies (Richard A. L. Jones).
2.3 In the Beginning: the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (Neal Lane and Thomas Kalil).
2.4 Science Fiction: A Portal to the Ethics of Nanotechnology (Rosalyn Berne).
3. Issues: Preparing for the Next Revolution.
3.0 Unit Introduction (John Weckert).
3.1 The Nanotechnology (R)evolution (Charlie Tahan).
3.2 Technology Revolutions and the Problem of Prediction (Nick Bostrom).
3.3 Complexity and Uncertainty: A Prudential Approach to Nanotechnology (Jean-Pierre Dupuy).
3.4 The Precautionary Principle in Nanotechnology (John Weckert and James Moor).
4. Issues: Health and Environment.
4.0 Unit Introduction (Jim Moor).
4.1 Nanotechnology and Risk: What are the Issues (Anne Ingeborg Myhr and Roy Dalmo)?
4.2 Personal Choice in the Coming Era of Nanomedicine (Robert A. Freitas).
4.3 Are We Playing God with Nano-Enhancement (Ted Peters).
4.4 Anticipating the Political and Ethical Challenges of Human Nanotechnologies (David Guston, John Parsi, and Justin Tosi).
5. Issues: Democracy and Policy.
5.0 Unit Introduction (Jim Moor).
5.1 Global Technology Regulation and Potentially-Apocalyptic Technological Threats (James Hughes).
5.2 Deliberative Democracy and Nanotechnology, Colin Farrelly.
5.3 Rhetoric of ‘Stakeholding’ (David Berube).
5.4 The Rules of Engagement: Dialogue and Democracy in Creating Nanotechnology Futures (James Wilsdon and Jack Stilgoe).
6. Issues: Broader Societal Impact.
6.0 Unit Introduction (John Weckert).
6.1 Nanotechnology and Privacy: the Instructive Case of RFID, Jeroen van den Hoven.
6.2 Nanotechnology and the Military (Daniel Moore).
6.3 Can Nanoscience be a Catalyst for Educational Reform (Patricia Schank, Joseph Krajcik, and Molly Yunker)?
6.4 The Impact of Nanotechnologies on Developing Countries (Joachim Schummer).
7. Issues: The Distant Future?
7.0 Unit Introduction (Fritz Allhoff).
7.1 Challenges and Pitfalls in Exponential Manufacturing (Mike Treder and Chris Phoenix).
7.2 Nanoethics and the High Frontier (Tihamer Toth-Fejel and Chris Dodsworth).
7.3 Ethics for Artificial Intellects (J. Storrs Hall).
7.4 Nanotechnology and Life Extension (Sebastian Sethe).
The book, which is available now for pre-sale, looks like an excellent addition to the field. The publisher's description says:
This up-to-date anthology gives the reader an introduction to and basic foundation in nanotechnology and nanoethics, and then delves into near-, mid-, and far-term issues. Comprehensive and authoritative, it goes beyond the usual environmental, health, and safety (EHS) concerns to explore such topics as privacy, nanomedicine, human enhancement, global regulation, military, humanitarianism, education, artificial intelligence, space exploration, life extension, and more.
Congratulations to Fritz, Pat, Jim, and John! We know it took a lot of work to pull this together and it appears you've done a smashing job.
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