Abstract
The miniaturization of science and engineering is just one aspect of the many ways that the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology promises to revolutionize the landscape of science, technology, and society. With potential applications stretching across the wide spectrum of research and development in consumer electronics and cosmetics, drug development and delivery in the pharmaceutical industry, medical technologies and therapeutics, energy production and storage, environmental engineering and remediation, industrial manufacturing, and textile production, nanoscience and nanotechnologies have demonstrated breathtaking potential. Some of its most ardent supporters project the future of this technology even more optimistically. Others disagree, suggesting that hype surrounding speculative nanotechnology is well beyond the plausible potential of the technology and seems more at home in science fiction novels and films. This essay explores the developing field of nanotechnology and given its vast potential considers whether there are inherent concerns or dangers in the utilization of these technologies. Additional attention is given to ethical considerations and implications of these technologies, as well as to policy questions that are raised with respect to regulating nanotechnology for the public good.
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Further Readings
Cameron, N., & Mitchell, E. (Eds.). (2007). Nanoscale: Issues and perspectives for the nano century. Hoboken: Wiley-Interscience.
Jotterand, F. (Ed.). (2008). Emerging conceptual, ethical and policy issues in bionanotechnology. London: Springer.
Malsch, I., & Emond, C. (Eds.). (2014). Nanotechnology and human health. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
O’Mathúna, D. (2009). Nanoethics: Big ethical issues with small technology. New York: Continuum.
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Sleasman, M. (2015). Nanotechnology. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_305-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_305-1
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