Abstract
Revolution ruptures the status quo and introduces a new era with little room to look back. Whether by way of war and political uprising or via new inventions, this vehicle of change is ever present in history. Today’s technological revolution has allowed scientists and engineers to sprint toward new advancements, but not without pause for ethical concerns. In an age where new knowledge is growing exponentially, it is important to consider the societal implications of up-and-coming innovations. Especially with regard to biomedical devices, progress has been rapid and the possibilities of the future seem boundless. However, with so much potential, it is important to ask, “Just because we can, does that mean we should?”
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The arguments made for cochlear implants may be analogous to arguments that may be made for visual prostheses. See also Anderson, this volume, and Silverman, this volume.
References
Anderson, Derrick. 2008. The history of cochlear implants. Poster presented at the CNS-ASU All Hands Meeting, Tempe, AZ.
Balkany, Thomas, Annelle Hodges, and Kenneth Goodman. 1996. Ethics of cochlear implantation in young children. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 114(6): 748–755.
Berger, Michael. 2008. Crossing the blood-brain barrier with nanotechnology. Nanowerk. http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=6269.php.
Berger, Francois, Sjef Gevers, Ludwig Siep, and Klaus-Michael Weltring. 2008. Ethical, legal, and social aspects of brain-implants using nano-scale materials and techniques. NanoEthics 2: 241–249.
Chase, Victor D. 2006. Shattered nerves: How science is solving modern medicine’s most perplexing problem. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Chorost, Michael. 2005. Rebuilt: How becoming part computer made me more human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Coffey, Robert J. 2009. Deep brain stimulation devices: A brief technical history and review. Artificial Organs 33(3): 208–20.
Drago, V., P.S. Foster, M.S. Okun, I. Haq, A. Sudhyadhom, F.M. Skidmore, and K.M. Heilman. 2009. Artistic creativity and DBS: A case report. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 276(1–2): 138–142.
Farah, M., and A.S. Heberlein. 2007. Personhood and neuroscience: Naturalizing or nihilating? The American Journal of Bioethics 7(1): 37–48.
Fernandez, Elisabeth. 2009. Iraqi boy can hear again after implant surgery. San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Feb 2009, News section.
Ford, Paul, and Cynthia Kubu. 2006. Stimulating debate: Ethics in a multidisciplinary functional neurosurgery committee. Journal of Medical Ethics 32(2): 106–109.
Gillett, G. 2006. Cyborgs and moral identity. Journal of Medical Ethics 32(2): 79–83.
Keiper, A. 2006. The age of neuroelectronics. The New Atlantis 11: 4–41.
Liker, Mark, Deborah Won, Vikas Rao, and Sherwin Hua. 2008. Deep brain stimulation: An evolving technology. Proceedings of the IEEE 96(7): 1129–1141.
Robert, Jason Scott. 2009. Nanoscience, nanoscientists, and controversy. In Nanotechnology and society: Current and emerging issues, ed. Fritz Allhoff, and Patrick Lin, 225–239. Dordrecht: Springer.
Roush, Wade. 2009. Cyberkinetics loses energy. Xconomy. http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/03/19/cyberkinetics-loses-energy/.
Stieglitz, T. 2007. Restoration of neurological functions by neuroprosthetic technologies: Future prospects and trends towards micro-, nano-, and biohybrid systems. Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum 97(Pt 1): 435–42.
Waltzman, Susan, and J. Thomas Roland Jr. 2006. Cochlear implants. Stuttgart: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
Wilson, B., and M.F. Dorman. 2008. Cochlear implants: A remarkable past and a brilliant future. Hearing Research 242(1–2): 3–21.
Wolbring, G. 2004. Confined to your legs. In Living with the genie: Essays on technology and the quest For human mastery, ed. Lightman Alan, Sarewitz Daniel, and Desser Christina, 139–156. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Wolpe, P.R. 2002. Neurotechnology, cyborgs, and the sense of self. In Neuroethics: Mapping the field, ed. S.J. Marcus, 159–167. New York: The Dana Foundation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Naufel, S. (2013). Nanotechnology, the Brain, and Personal Identity. In: Hays, S., Robert, J., Miller, C., Bennett, I. (eds) Nanotechnology, the Brain, and the Future. Yearbook of Nanotechnology in Society, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1787-9_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1787-9_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-1786-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-1787-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)