Re: FWD [forteana] Nanotech may spark fierce ethical row

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Mon Feb 17 2003 - 09:43:59 MST

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    On Mon, Feb 17, 2003 at 08:50:50AM -0700, Terry W. Colvin wrote:
    >
    > The JCB researchers say nanotechnology raises unique questions that may
    > require specific regulations.
    >
    > Problem areas include:
    >
    > Equity: who will benefit - just the rich, or the poor as well?
    > Privacy and security: invisible microphones, cameras and tracking devices
    > could improve security, and help catch terrorists. What are the military
    > applications?
    > Environment: what will the new nano-materials do when they are released?
    > The study says although research is still in its infancy, with most
    > applications perhaps years away, "the backlash against the new technology is
    > already gathering momentum".

    Notice how these questions are extremely *non-unique* to nanotech? They
    want a nanotech debate, but not dealing with anything outside the
    current paradigm, like human enhancement or nanomedicine. This where we
    can actually help them a lot with our own perspective.

    -- 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
    asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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