Executive Summary
I. Introduction: Technology, Ethics and Government
Technology and Society
Ethics and the Functions of Government
The National Nanotechnology Initiative and the “Other” Social and Ethical Issues
About this Report
II. Ethics and Emerging Nanotechnologies
Ethics as Restraint and Aspiration
Roles of Ethics in Responsible Development
Ethical Issues vs. Ethical Implications
III. Three Misconceptions about the Social and Ethical Issues
Too Soon to Tell
The Inevitable Goodness of the Nanotechnology Revolution
The Point Is to Secure Public Acceptance
IV. Typology of the Issues
Social Context Issues
Contested Moral Issues
Technoculture Issues
Form of Life Issues
Transformational Issues
V. Social Context Issues
Scenario: Manufacturing Nanotechnology
Environmental Justice
The Issue: Environmental Justice and Nanotechnology
Addressing Environmental Injustice
Beyond Environmental Justice
Comments on Social Context Issues
VI. Contested Moral Issues
Scenario: Research at the Boundaries of Life Forms
Research on Novel Life Forms
The Issue: The Sanctity of Life Forms?
Beyond the Sanctity of Life Forms
Comments on Contested Moral Issues
VII. Technoculture Issues
Scenario: Nanotechnology, Genomics and Asthma in Upper Manhattan
The Techno-Fix
The Issue: Nanotechnology as Techno-Fix?
Beyond the Techno-Fix
Comments on Technoculture Issues
VIII. Form of Life Issues
Scenario: Virtual Socialization
Virtual Reality
The Issue: Virtual Reality and Sociability
Beyond Virtual Reality and Sociability
Comments on Form of Life Issues
IX. Transformational Issues
Scenario: Cognitive Enhancement
On the Threshold of (Radical) Human Enhancement?
Social and Ethical Dimensions of Radical Human Enhancement
The Issue: Transformational Dimensions of Radical Human Enhancement
Beyond Radical Human Enhancement
Comments on Transformational Issues
X. Conclusion: The Opportunity
REFERENCES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I. Introduction: Technology, Ethics and Government
Technology and Society
Ethics and the Functions of Government
The National Nanotechnology Initiative and the “Other” Social and Ethical Issues
About this Report
II. Ethics and Emerging Nanotechnologies
Ethics as Restraint and Aspiration
Roles of Ethics in Responsible Development
Ethical Issues vs. Ethical Implications
III. Three Misconceptions about the Social and Ethical Issues
Too Soon to Tell
The Inevitable Goodness of the Nanotechnology Revolution
The Point Is to Secure Public Acceptance
IV. Typology of the Issues
Social Context Issues
Contested Moral Issues
Technoculture Issues
Form of Life Issues
Transformational Issues
V. Social Context Issues
Scenario: Manufacturing Nanotechnology
Environmental Justice
The Issue: Environmental Justice and Nanotechnology
Addressing Environmental Injustice
Beyond Environmental Justice
Comments on Social Context Issues
VI. Contested Moral Issues
Scenario: Research at the Boundaries of Life Forms
Research on Novel Life Forms
The Issue: The Sanctity of Life Forms?
Beyond the Sanctity of Life Forms
Comments on Contested Moral Issues
VII. Technoculture Issues
Scenario: Nanotechnology, Genomics and Asthma in Upper Manhattan
The Techno-Fix
The Issue: Nanotechnology as Techno-Fix?
Beyond the Techno-Fix
Comments on Technoculture Issues
VIII. Form of Life Issues
Scenario: Virtual Socialization
Virtual Reality
The Issue: Virtual Reality and Sociability
Beyond Virtual Reality and Sociability
Comments on Form of Life Issues
IX. Transformational Issues
Scenario: Cognitive Enhancement
On the Threshold of (Radical) Human Enhancement?
Social and Ethical Dimensions of Radical Human Enhancement
The Issue: Transformational Dimensions of Radical Human Enhancement
Beyond Radical Human Enhancement
Comments on Transformational Issues
X. Conclusion: The Opportunity
REFERENCES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS