Nano(bio)technology: ethical aspects

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Nano(bio)technologyethical aspects

• Dr. Johann S. Ach
• Bioethics Centre (CfB), University of Münster

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• Background
• What is Nano(bio)technology?
• The futuristic discussion
• The realistic discussion
• In need of Nano-Ethics?

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1 Background

• Results of a literature survey on ethical issues
  of NBT prepared at the CfB
• comissioned by the ethics board of Nano2Life
• Nano2Life is a European Network of Excellence, 23
  partners from 12 European Countries
• no in-depth analysis but a study of the current
  status of the discussion

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2 What is Nano(bio)technology?

• Nanotechnologies are the design,
  characterisation, production and application of
  structures, devices and systems by controlling
  shape and size at the nanometre scale (Royal
  Society Royal Academy of Engineering 2004)
• No commonly accepted definition of NT/NBT
• NT as a toolbox
• NBT as a toolbox of techniques for analysis,
  design, synthesis and engineering of organic and
  anorganic systems at the nanoscale

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Current and possible applications of NT/NBT

• current Sunscreens and cosmetics composites
  clays coatings and surfaces tougher and harder
  cutting tools
• short-term paints remediation fuel cells
  displays batteries fuel additives catalysts
• longer-term carbon nanotube composites
  lubricants magnetic materials medical implants
  machinable cheramics water purification
  military battle suits

Source Royal Society Royal Academy of
Engineering 2004
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3 The futuristic discussion

• lego-argument Can we build everything from
  single atoms? (? nanobots, nanoassembler)
• apocalypse-argument Devastation of men and earth
  (? grey, green and black goo-scenarios)?
• cyborg-argument men and mashines (?
  transhumanism)
• ? powerful visions, which will shape the future
  development of NT, even if there realizabilty is
  highly questionable

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4 The realistic discussion

• Biomedical Ethics
• Enviromental concerns
• Impacts on Society
• Anthropological concerns

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Biomedical Ethics

• gap between diagnostic and therapeutic options (?
  DNA-chips)
• discrimination (? individualization of diagnosis
  and therapy ? cultural groups, e.g deaf
  community)
• confidentiality, data protection, privacy (?
  nano-sensoric in vivo-diagnostic devices ?
  technologies that enable rapid identification,
  location tracking, and condition monitoring
  through implantable microchips)

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Impacts on Society

• equity
• nano devide
• intellectual Property
• dual use (? military or terrorist ab/use of NT)

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2001 one third of the budget of the national
Nanotechnology Initiative was spent by the
Department of Defence.
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Enviromental concerns

• impacts on the enviroment
• release of nanoparticles (? risk assessment what
  practical consequences should follow? moratorium?
  precautionary principle?)

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Anthropological aspects

• reductionism (? the human body as a complex
  nanomaschine?)
• enhancement (? intelligence or sensory
  amplifyers)
• nature of the human being (? human-mashine-interfa
  ce)

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5 In need of Nano-Ethics?

• Debate on ELSA of NT/NBT is just beginning
• Many of the ethical and social challanges of
  NT/NBT are well known from other discussions
  but
• old questions need not necessarily are bad
  questions and
• many of them appear in a quite new light.
• ? Maybe no Nano-Ethics but
• ethical reflection on NT/NBT and
• the so called converging or NBIC-technologies

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6 References

• Ach, Johann S. / Jömann, Norbert Size Matters.
  Ethische und soziale Herausforderungen der
  Nanobiotechnologie. Eine Übersicht. In Jahrbuch
  für Wissenschaft und Ethik 10, 2005
  (forthcoming).
• Ach, Johann S. / Siep, Ludwig (Hgg.)
  Nano-Bio-Ethics. Ethical Dimensions of
  Nanobiotechnolgy. Münster Lit 2006
  (forthcoming).
• Paschen, H. et al. Nanotechnologie. Forschung,
  Entwicklung, Anwendung. Berlin/New York Springer
  2004.
• Royal Society Royal Academy of Engineering
  Nanoscience and nanotechnologies opportunities
  and uncertainties. London 2004.
• TA Swiss Nanotechnologie in der Medizin. Bern
  2003.

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Thank you for your attention.