Table of Contents

Preface viii


Unit I What Is Nanotechnology? 1


1 The Basics of Nanotechnology 3


1.1 Definitions and Scales 3


1.2 The Origins of Nanotechnology 5


1.3 The Current State of Nanotechnology 8


1.4 The Future of Nanotechnology 12


1.5 Nanotechnology in Nature and Applications 16


2 Tools of the Trade 20


2.1 Seeing the Nanoscale 21


2.2 Basic Governing Theories 30


3 Nanomaterials 36


3.1 Formation of Materials 36


3.2 Carbon Nanomaterials 37


3.3 Inorganic Nanomaterials 44


4 Applied Nanotechnology 56


4.1 Using Nanomaterials 56


4.2 Nanotechnology Computing and Robotics 62


4.3 Predicting the Future of Technology 67


Unit II Risk, Regulation, and Fairness 71


5 Risk and Precaution 73


5.1 Risk 73


5.2 Cost?Benefit Analysis 79


5.3 Precautionary Principles 82


5.4 Evaluating the Precautionary Principle 89


6 Regulating Nanotechnology 96


6.1 The Stricter-Law Argument 97


6.2 Learning from History 100


6.3 Objections to the Stricter-Law Argument 102


6.4 An Interim Solution? 120


6.5 Putting the Pieces Together 124


7 Equity and Access 126


7.1 Distributive Justice 127


7.2 Nanotechnology and the Developing World 132


7.3 Water Purification 135


7.4 Solar Energy 140


7.5 Medicine 143


7.6 Nanotechnology, the Developing World, and Distributive
Justice 145


Unit III Ethical and Social Implications 151


8 Environment 153


8.1 Society, Technology, and the Environment 154


8.2 Environmental Risks of Nanotechnology 159


8.3 Nanotechnology Solutions to Environmental Problems 161


8.4 Overall Assessments: Risk and Precaution 168


9 Military 170


9.1 The Military and Technology 170


9.2 A Nano-Enabled Military 173


9.3 A Nano-Enabled Defense System 177


9.4 Ethical Concerns 179


10 Privacy 185


10.1 Historical and Legal Background 186


10.2 Philosophical Foundations 192


10.3 Radio Frequency Identity Chips 198


10.4 Item-Level Tagging 201


10.5 Human Implants 204


10.6 RFID-Chipped Identification 207


10.7 Is RFID a Threat to Privacy? 210


11 Medicine 215


11.1 The Rise of Nanomedicine 216


11.2 Diagnostics and Medical Records 219


11.3 Treatment 223


11.4 Moving Forward 227


12 Human Enhancement 230


12.1 What is Human Enhancement? 231


12.2 Defining Human Enhancement 234


12.3 The Therapy?Enhancement Distinction 237


12.4 Human Enhancement Scenarios 240


12.5 Untangling the Issues in Human Enhancement 243


12.6 Restricting Human Enhancement Technologies? 252


13 Conclusion 254


13.1 Chapter Summaries 255


13.2 Final Thoughts and Future Investigations 258


References 261


Index 282

About the Author

Fritz Allhoff is Assistant Professor in the Department of
Philosophy at Western Michigan University, where he also holds an
affiliation with the Mallinson Institute for Science Education. He
has held fellowships at the Center for Philosophy of Science at the
University of Pittsburgh and the Centre for Applied Philosophy and
Public Ethics at the Australian National University. He has edited
more than 20 books, including two on the social and ethical
implications of nanotechnology.
Patrick Lin is the director of Ethics + Emerging Sciences
Group at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo,
and holds academic appointments at Dartmouth College, US Naval
Academy and Western Michigan University. He is also lead author of
a recent major report funded by the Department of Navy entitled
Autonomous Military Robotics: Risk, Ethics, and Design
(2008), as well as other publications in technology ethics,
including edited anthologies on nanoethics.


Daniel Moore is a research scientist on nanoscale
semiconductor solutions for IBM. He served on the Georgia Institute
of Technology?s honor committee and has received numerous
fellowships, including the Molecular Design Institute Fellowship,
the GT Nanoscience and Technology Fellowship, the School of
Materials Science and Engineering Advanced Publication Award, the
NSF STEP Fellowship, and a Sam Nunn Security Fellowship. His
professional experience includes nanoscale research in other
leading industry laboratories.

Reviews

However, for the reader looking for general background about nanotechnology and many of its social and ethical issues, the book is worth reading, as long as its arguments are carefully scrutinized and increased understanding of connections among such issues is not expected. (Bioethical Inquiry, 2011) I highly recommend this book. It is certain that nanotechnology s advance will continue, affecting many facets of our lives. Fritz Allhof, Patrick Lin, and Daniel Moore have provided the best available overview of the many changes that one can expect to see as a result of nanotechnology s continued advances, and the many ethical implications inherent in this advance. While the authors ask many more questions than they answer, they prepare the intellectual landscape for the ethical debates that are certain to take place over the coming years regarding the often-insidious infusion of various manifestations of nanotechnology into our society. (Journal of Military Ethics, 19 April 2012) "In their recent publication, What is Nanotechnology and Why Does it Matter: From Science to Ethics, the authors Fritz Allhoff, Patrick Lin, and Daniel Moore search for answers to these two questions-questions which, whether directly addressed or not, underlie all scholarly, political, and consumer protection writings on nanotechnology. In this 260 page, thirteen-chapter book, the authors come impressively close to providing satisfying answers to these questions." (Amber Hottes, Nanotechnology Law & Business, Volume 7, Issue 2) "As with a number of other such books in print, "What is Nanotechnology and why does it Matter?" brings both scientific knowledge and Ethical/Legal/Societal implications (ELSI) to bear. It heralds the profound changes of nanotechnology while attempting to provide an effective way to deliberate ELSI, as nanotechnology unfolds into full development. In seeking to "tame a riot of speculation" [ix], Allhoff, Lin, and Moore reveal much of the complexity of the ongoing discourse on this matter, leaving quandary on multiple related issues. The tripartite layout of the book demarcates particular areas of expertise represented by the individual authors, in an unusual collaboration that brings distinctive breadth to a relatively well-published area of inquiry." (Rosalyn W. Berne, The Journal of Philosophy, Science & Law, Volume 11, 10 October 2011) "The book is well-suited to be used either as a coherent text for introductory courses focused specifically on nanotechnology, or used as stand-alone chapters that can be selected to augment and supplement readings in a wide range of courses in fields such as public policy, engineering, sociology, or philosophy of science. The highly interdisciplinary perspective offered in this book should also serve as a model of how scholars can effectively collaborate across fields in ways that break down obstacles and connect findings across disciplines that are all-too-often isolated." (Evan S. Michelson, Science and Public Policy, 2011) "Overall What is Nanotechnology and Why does it Matter? From Science to Ethics makes an important contribution to the literature as it offers an overview of the nature and implications of nanotechnology. Scientists, researchers, students, industry executives and policymakers will find this volume extremely informative and useful. As advancements in nanotechnology will take place, further dialogues and debates are needed to move nano-products responsibly into the market." (Fabrice Jotterand, International Journal of Applied Philosophy,2010) "This book was very carefully constructed. Painstaking internal cross-reference refer the reader to fuller discussions of topics in other chapters. Nearly every chapter, at the start and conclusion, includes a few sentences on scope." (Nanotechnology Law & Business, summer 2010)