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Two Dimensions of the Ethical Problems Related to Nanotechnology

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Abstract

The current literature on nanoethics focuses on a wide array of topics such as equity, privacy, military, environment, human enhancement, intellectual property, and security. The identification of those topics leads to the adoption of an ethical stance, which we call the in itself dimension. In this article we argue that even though it is correct to identify the areas where ethical problems are imperative to deal with (in itself dimension), it is a partial approach. This is because the in itself dimension pays no attention to another ethical stance; one that does not have anything to do with individual or collective responsibilities, but rather with the socio-economic system into which those responsibilities are embedded. We call this second issue the contextual dimension.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral Program on Development Studies, Latin American Nanotechnology and Society Network (ReLANS), Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Apartado Postal 128, Allende 111., Zacatecas, ZAC, 98000, México

    Guillermo Foladori

  2. Education Sector, Latin American Nanotechnology and Society Network (ReLANS), Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brasil

    Noela Invernizzi

  3. Latin American Nanotechnology and Society Network (ReLANS), Zacatecas, Mexico

    Edgar Záyago

Authors
  1. Guillermo Foladori
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  2. Noela Invernizzi
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  3. Edgar Záyago
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Correspondence to Guillermo Foladori.

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Foladori, G., Invernizzi, N. & Záyago, E. Two Dimensions of the Ethical Problems Related to Nanotechnology. Nanoethics 3, 121–127 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11569-009-0060-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11569-009-0060-4

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