Cameron Nigel M de S
Center on Nanotechnology and Society, Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Dec;1093:280-300. doi: 10.1196/annals.1382.019.
The extraordinary potential of nanoscale research and development has yet to be matched in the growth of public awareness of the technology and its implications for society. Groups have emerged that are highly critical of the technology, and others that see it as the key to the radical transformation of human nature itself. Between these extremes, the direction of federal policy has been to encourage the technology while respecting the integrity of the human condition. Experience with genetically modified foods in Europe, where they are widely known as "Frankenfoods," suggests that wide public acceptance of a new technology is crucial to its economic success. A focus on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of the technology, and especially respect for human nature, is therefore prudent. But it is not enough to fund research on societal questions; respect for the human condition must frame the development of nanotechnology. This article draws upon our experiences with biotechnology to better understand the issues we face as developments in nanotechnology begin to impact society.
纳米技术研发的巨大潜力在公众对该技术及其对社会影响的认知增长方面尚未得到匹配。已经出现了一些对该技术持高度批评态度的团体，还有一些团体将其视为人类本性彻底转变的关键。在这些极端观点之间，联邦政策的方向一直是在鼓励该技术的同时尊重人类状况的完整性。欧洲对转基因食品的经验表明，公众对新技术的广泛接受对其经济成功至关重要，在欧洲，转基因食品广为人知的称呼是“ Frankenfoods” 。因此，关注该技术的伦理、法律和社会影响，尤其是尊重人性，是审慎的做法。但仅仅为关于社会问题的研究提供资金是不够的；对人类状况的尊重必须贯穿纳米技术的发展过程。本文借鉴了我们在生物技术方面的经验，以便在纳米技术发展开始影响社会时更好地理解我们所面临的问题。
