1 / 27

Ethics and Societal Implications of Nanoscale Science & Engineering

Explore the ethical challenges and societal implications of nanotechnology, including the distribution of costs and benefits, patenting and research funding, access and availability of results, and control and public participation.

mwiggins
Download Presentation

Ethics and Societal Implications of Nanoscale Science & Engineering

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Societal Implications of Nanoscale Science & Engineering: Ethics Fundamentals Seminar February 16, 2004 Bruce Seely

  2. Ethics is the field of study that is concerned with questions of value, i.e., judgments about what human behavior is "good" or "bad" in any given situation. Ethics are the standards, values, morals, principles, etc., which are used to base one's decisions or actions on; often there is no clear "right" or "wrong" answer. http://courses.ncsu.edu:8020/classes-a/computer_ethics/basics/principles/

  3. Bases for Ethical Decisions • Self Interest • Utility • Virtues and character • Philosophical/Religious Principles • Golden Rule: Do unto others… • Precautionary Principle • Professional Ethics: Do No Harm? • Doctors: Hippocratic Oath • Engineers: Clients vs. Public?

  4. Recommended Core Ethical Values 1. Integrity: exercising good judgment 2. Honesty: truthfulness, fairness, sincerity 3. Fidelity:faithfulness to clients, allegiance to the public trust, loyalty to employer, firm or agency & profession; for the theist, faithfulness to God 4. Charity: kindness, caring, tolerance, adherence to the Golden Rule 5. Responsibility: reliability, accountability, trustworthiness 6. Self-Discipline: act with reasonable restraint; not indulge in excessive behavior National Institute for Engineering Ethics, Texas Tech University http://www.niee.org/pd.cfm?pt=AECM

  5. Ethical Challenges of Nanotechnology • Equally Distributing Costs & Benefits • What can be Patented? • What Research Gets Funded? • Access and Availability of Results • Who Wins, Who Loses? Haves and Have-nots • Control and Public Participation • Who Decides? • Mis-use? Standards? Kranzberg’s Law

  6. Ethical Challenges (2) Enthusiasm And Hype Uncertainty Of The Future Applications: Military, Security “Playing God?” Limits? Essence of Humanity? Ethics of Implants? Eugenics? Replication – Brains? Possibility of Sentient Machines? Gambling with the Future Risk and Harm: Patients and Testing? Values: Individual or Community? Control over Personal Information?

  7. K. Eric Drexler

  8. Richard E. Smalley

  9. Drexler/Smalley Exchange: Chemical & Engineering News: Vol. 81, no. 48 (December 1, 2003): 37-42. Pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8148/8148counterpoint.html

  10. Foresight Institute’s Principles for the Development of Nanotechnology “Foresight Institute's goal is to guide emerging technologies to improve the human condition and the environment. Foresight’s policy recognizes that nanotechnology — like all pivotal technologies — brings both potential perils and benefits. Engines of Creation, published in 1986, contained the chapters "Engines of Destruction" and "Strategies and Survival". A 1988 Foresight Background document included the section "A Dialog on Dangers". Part of Foresight's efforts to help achieve the advantages and avoid the dangers of nanotechnology has been the development of guidelines for research and development.” www.foresight.org/guidelines/index.html

  11. Foresight Institute Principles • MNT field must develop professional guidelines • Distinguish different levels of risk • Accidental and willful misuse should be punished • Refusal to follow guidelines should lead to “comparative disadvantage” • MNT should have built-in safety devices • “Global community” should develop effective restrictions • MNT research must consider ecology & public health • Regulations should include specific guidelines

  12. Foresight Institute • Development Principles • 1. MNT should not replicate in natural, uncontrolled env’ts. • 2. Evolution is discouraged. • Replicated information should be error free. • 4. MNT designs should limit proliferation and provide traceability. • Developers should consider & limit environmental consequences. • Industry self-regulation: Willingness to self-regulate should be one condition for access to advanced tech. • 7. Distribution of molecular manufacturing development capability should be restricted to responsible actors.

  13. Specific Design Guidelines for • Self-replicating devices • 1. Use encryption so that any replication error will randomize blueprint. • 2. Use encrypted MNT device instruction sets to discourage proliferation & piracy. • 3. Mutation outside of sealed laboratory conditions should be discouraged. • 4. Replication systems should generate audit trails. • Incorporate built-in safety mechanisms: Artificial fuels; Replication dependent on instructions; Route control through entire device; programming termination dates. • Use systematic security measures to avoid unplanned distribution of designs and technical capabilities.

  14. CONCLUSION “…many intricate societal and institutional adjustments transcending in complexity and uncertainty the redirection of private investment planning, are usually entailed in effecting the passage from one technological regime to another. On this view there are likely to be many difficulties and obstacles that normal market processes cannot readily overcome.” Irwin Feller, in Roco and Bainbridge, Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, pp. 112-13.

  15. NanotechnologyEthicsQuiz

  16. “Beyond Human” Implanted nanocomputers interface with the myriad synapses of the neurons of the brain."

  17. Brain Cell Enhancer

  18. DNA Repair Machines

  19. "Peeper" nanorobots Equipped with optical sensors along with other nanorobots having various test features are introduced into the venous bloodstream of an anesthetized animal to validate safety protocols prior to human use.

  20. Nanobot Propelling Sperm 1999 Interior for the Guardian newspaper www.papertiger.co.uk/.../ habbi2pop.html

  21. Foreign Body Zapper www.fonsecatim.com/ zapbot1.html

  22. Wilson Double-core Tennis Balls Eddie Bauer Nano-Care Burlington Nano-Tex

  23. Dental ‘Bots

  24. NANOANTS Larger than biological ants, conveniently antlike nanorobots with flexible skin manicure our lawns."

  25. HAIR JACKS

  26. COSMOBOTS "Little robots wait hidden in the skin to dispense the pigments from their stores as programmed by their owners - an alternative to drugstore makeup products and the time required to apply them daily.."

  27. Sources: Nano and ethics: Will Prince Charles et al diminish the opportunities of developing countries in nanotechnology? http://www.utoronto.ca/jcb/main.html Foresight Institute: Guidelines on Molecular Nanotechnology http://www.foresight.org/guidelines/index.html http://www.foresight.org/guidelines/current.html#Principles Images from the Foresight Gallery: www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Gallery/index.html “Nanotechnology Stirs Public Opposition,” Detroit News Sunday, February 15, 2004, p. 9A; www.detnews.com/2004/technology/0402/16/a09-64300.htm National Institute for Engineering Ethics, Texas Tech University http://www.niee.org/pd.cfm?pt=AECM David Rotman, “Measuring the Risks of Nanotechnology,” Technology Review 106 (April 2003): 71-73. Rustum Roy, “Socially Responsible Materials Research,” Materials Research Innovations 7 (2003): 191.

More Related