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December 15, 2008
Human
Enhancement and Societal Challenges Featured in NanoEthics Journal
New collection of papers helps to
navigate complex maze of issues
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – December 15, 2008 –
The Nanoethics Group today announced publishing a symposium of papers
focusing on ethical and societal problems arising from human enhancement
applications of emerging technologies, especially nanotechnology. The
symposium appears in the December 2008 issue of NanoEthics journal published
by Springer, one of the world’s largest publisher in science, technology,
and medicine.
“Several prominent scientists and ethicists recently declared their support
for the use of pharmaceuticals—provided they are safe—to enhance cognitive
functions of healthy individuals,” recounted Dr. Patrick Lin, director of
The Nanoethics Group and visiting assistant professor at California
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. “Not only is this
position highly controversial, even if it is ultimately defensible, but it
also doesn’t consider larger societal consequences, such as competitive
fairness and access. In our NanoEthics journal symposium, we help to
sort through the many strands of intertwined issues to more fully consider
the ethics of human enhancement.”
The symposium is comprised of the following six papers:
1. “Untangling the Debate: The Ethics of Human Enhancement” by Patrick
Lin (Cal Poly, SLO; Dartmouth) and Fritz Allhoff (Western Michigan Univ.;
CAPPE);
2. “Nanotechnology: Considering the Complex Ethical, Legal, and
Societal Issues with the Parameters of Human Performance” by Linda MacDonald
Glenn (Alden March Bioethics Institute/Albany Medical Center; University of
Vermont College of Nursing) and Jeanann S. Boyce (Montgomery College);
3. “Enhancing Justice?” by Tamara Garcia and Ronald Sandler (both of
Northeastern University);
4. “Nanotechnology, Enhancement, and Human Nature” by Nicole Hassoun
(Carnegie Mellon University);
5. “The Opposite of Human Enhancement: Nanotechnology and the Blind
Chicken Problem” by Paul Thompson (Michigan State University); and
6. “Ethics, Speculation, and Values” by Rebecca Roache (Oxford
University)
The Nanoethics Group is also involved in organizing a conference on this
important subject, to be held at Western Michigan University (WMU) on March
27-29, 2009. More information will be available at
www.nanoethics.org.
The journal symposium and upcoming conference are funded by collaborative US
National Science Foundation grants awarded to WMU and Dartmouth College,
award numbers 0620694 and 0621021. For access to the first,
introductory paper, please visit
www.nanoethics.org/paper_enhance.html
For subscription access to the other papers, please visit
www.springer.com/philosophy/ethics/journal/11569.
About The Nanoethics Group
Based at
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo), The
Nanoethics Group is a non-partisan research organization formed to study
nanotechnology’s impact on society and related ethical issues. As
professional ethicists, we help to identify and evaluate possible harms and
conflicts as well as to bring balance and common sense to the debate. Our
mission is to educate and advise both organizations and the broader public
on these issues as a foundation to guide policy and responsible research. For more
information, please visit
www.nanoethics.org.
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