Abstract
Nanotechnology is a swiftly developing field of technology that is believed to have the potential of great upsides and excessive downsides. In the ethical debate there has been a strong tendency to strongly focus on either the first or the latter. As a consequence ethical assessments of nanotechnology tend to radically diverge. Optimistic visionaries predict truly utopian states of affairs. Pessimistic thinkers present all manner of apocalyptic visions. Whereas the utopian views follow from one-sidedly focusing on the potential benefits of nanotechnology, the apocalyptic perspectives result from giving exclusive attention to possible worst-case scenarios. These radically opposing evaluations hold the risk of conflicts and unwanted backlashes. Furthermore, many of these drastic views are based on simplified and outdated visions of a nanotechnology dominated by self-replicating assemblers and nanomachines. Hence, the present state of the ethical debate on nanotechnology calls for the development of more balanced and better-informed assessments. As a first step in this direction this contribution presents a new method of framing the ethical debate on nanotechnology. Thus, the focus of this paper is on methodology, not on normative analysis.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Moore, A. (2001) Brave Small World. Biotechnology and Nanotechnology may give Rise to a Completely New Industry. EMBO Reports 2 (2): 86–88.
Peterson, C. (2003) Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Full Science Committee Hearing on The Societal Implications of Nanotechnology, April 9, 2003 (available at http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/full03/apr09/peterson.htm; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Stix, G. (2001) Little Big Science. Scientific American 285 (3): 26–31.
Jacobstein, N and Reynolds, G.H. (2004) Foresight Guidelines Version 4.0: Self Assessment Scorecards for Safer Development of Nanotechnology (available at http://www.foresight.org/guidelines/current.html; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Bachmann, G. (1998) Innovationsschub aus dem Nanokosmos. Technologieanalyse. VDI-Technologiezentrum, Düsseldorf.
May, M. (1999) Nanotechnology: Thinking Small. Environmental Health Perspectives 107 (9): A450-A451.
National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Technology, Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (2000) National Nanotechnology Initiative: The Initiative and Its Implementation Plan. Washington, D.C. (available at http://www.nano.gov/html/res/nni2.pdf; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Drexler, K.E. (1986) Engines of Creation. The Coming Era of Nanotechnology. Anchor Press/Doubleday, New York.
Von Neumann, J. (1951) The general and logical theory of automata, in Jeffress, L.A. ed. Cerebral Mechanisms in Behavior. John Wiley, New York: 1–41.
Feynman, R. (1992) There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom [reprint]. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems 1 (1): 65.
Dewdney, A.K. (1988) Nanotechnology: Wherein Molecular Computers control Tiny Circulatory Submarines. Scientific American 258 (1): 100–103.
Freitas, R.A.Jr. (1999) Nanomedicine, Volume I: Basic Capabilities. Landes Bioscience, Georgetown, TX.
Herzog, A. (2002) Of Genomics, Cyborgs and Nanotechnology: A Look into the Future of Medicine. Connecticut Medicine 66 (1): 53–54.
Merkle R.C. (1992) The Technical Feasibility of Cryonics. Medical Hypotheses 39: 6–16.
Merkle, R.C. (1996) Nanotechnology and Medicine, in: Klatz, R.M. ed. Advances in Anti-Aging Medicine. Vol. I. Larchmont, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., New York: pp. 277–286.
Ashley, S. (2001) Nanobot Construction Crews. Scientific American 285 (3): 76–77.
Smalley, R.E. (2001) Of Chemistry, Love and Nanobots. Scientific American 285 (3): 68–69.
Phoenix, C. and Drexler, E. (2004) Safe Exponential Manufacturing. Nanotechnology 15: 869–872.
Freitas, R.A.Jr. (1998) Nanomedicine FAQ. (available at http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/index.html#NM%20FAQ; accessed 17 September, 2005)
Kaku, M. (1997) Visions. How Science will revolutionize the 21 st Century. Anchor Books/Doubleday, New York.
Kurzweil R. (1999) The Age of Spiritual Machines. When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence. The Viking Press, New York.
Bostrom, N. (2003) The Transhumanist FAQ — A General Introduction — Version 2.1. (available at http://www.transhumanism.org/resources/faq.html; accessed 17 September, 2005)
Merkle, R.C. (1994) The Molecular Repair of the Brain. Part I. Cryonics 15 (1): 16–31.
Merkle, R.C. (1994) The Molecular Repair of the Brain. Part II. Cryonics 15 (2): 20–32.
Mnyusiwalla, A., Daar, A.S. and Singer, P.A. (2003) Mind the Gap: Science and Ethics in Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology 14: R9-R13;
Peterson, C. (2003) Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Full Science Committee Hearing on The Societal Implications of Nanotechnology, April 9, 2003 (available at http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/full03/apr09/peterson.htm; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Joy B. (2000) Why the Future doesn’t need Us. Wired. 8.04 (available at http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Service, R.F. (2000) Is Nanotechnology Dangerous? Science 290 (November 24): 1526–1527.
Crichton, M. (2002) Prey. Harper Collins, New York.
Alivisatos, A.P. (2001) Less is More in Medicine. Scientific American 285 (3): 59–65.
Randal, J. (2001) Nanotechnology getting off the Ground in Cancer Research. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 93 (24): 1836–1838.
Roco, M.C. and Bainbridge, W.S. (2002) Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance. Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Cognitive Science. Arlington, Virginia (available at http://wtec.org/ConvergingTechnologies/; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Popper, K. (1982) The Open Universe: An Argument for Indeterminism. Hutchinson, London.
Bogunia-Kubick, K and Sugisaka, M. (2002) From Molecular Biology to Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine. Biosystems 65 (2–3): 123–138.
Taton, T.A. (2001) Nanotechnology. Boning up on Biology. Nature 412 (August 2): 491–492.
36 ETC. (2003) The Big Down: Technologies Converging at the Nano-scale. (available at http://www.etcgroup.org/documents/TheBigDown.pdf; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Winner, L. (2003) Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Full Science Committee Hearing on The Societal Implications of Nanotechnology, April 9, 2003 (available at http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/full03/apr09/winner.htm; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Hett, A. (2004) Nanotechnology: Small Matter, Many Unknowns. Swiss Reinsurance Company, Zürich (available at http://www.swissre.com/; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Nanoforum, (2004) Benefits, Risks, Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Nanotechnology (available at http://www.nanoforum.org/; accessed 17 September, 2005).
The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering (Royal Society). (2004) Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties — Summary and Recommendations. The Royal Society, London. (available at http://www.nanotec.org.uk/report/summary.pdf; accessed 17 September, 2005).
European Union. (2004) Communication from the Commission. Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology, Brussel. (available at ftp://ftp.cordis.lu/pub/nanotechnology/docs/nano_com_en.pdf; accessed 17 September, 2005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gordijn, B. Nanoethics: From utopian dreams and apocalyptic nightmares towards a more balanced view. SCI ENG ETHICS 11, 521–533 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-005-0024-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-005-0024-1