Re: nanotech?

George,
    I'm planning to give a talk on this topic at the annual meeting. Having spent many years ramping up IBM's nanotechnology effort, I've thought about it quite a bit. There are relatively few articles on the topic. I believe that's because there really is no significant theological issue that arises from nanotechnology. As for ethical issues, I don't see any inherently unique issues arising but there are the typical ethical concerns connected with any emerging field. The inventors and investors are committed to pursuing all avenues and don't want anything slowing them down. Critics want to smother the field with restrictions until all risks are resolved. The answer, as usual, is a balance. We dare not repeat the high costs of environmental cleanup that resulted from ramping up the nuclear weapon and power industries before we understood the hazards.
    Bill Joy, formerly of Sun and inventor of Java, raised a lot of hackles a few years ago when he warned of nanotech's potential to generate self-replicating autobots, He later pulled back from his claims but not before generating swarms of antibodies. Later Prince Charles got in the act and began warning of the potential dangers of nanotech. Again the antibodies rose up in defense. Now we get reports of damage from buckeyballs and carbon nanotubes in certain organisms. The net is that there may be some new toxic effects due to the nature of nanoparticles but the chemical and bio industries have learned how to deal with toxic components in an industrial environment. We just have to make sure they do so!
    In summary, it's a fascinating field with interesting physics as well as technological innovation, but probably not a field that will generate a lot of discussion on theology or ethics.

    Randy
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: George Murphy
  To: ASA list
  Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 7:35 AM
  Subject: nanotech?

  I've had a request for resources on possible theological & ethical issues connected with nanotechnology. Any suggestions?

  Shalom
  George
  http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
Received on Sun Mar 27 20:30:52 2005