From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Sat Dec 07 2002 - 07:48:29 MST
http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1477445
Plagued by both pessimism and hype, can nanotechnology grow up?
Interesting article, because it touches on a strategy problem for us. We
want to promote technologies that have a transformative potential, and
we want to create a constructive discussion about what they can be used
for beforehand so that we avoid Dolly-bans and misuse. But at the same
time, claiming certain technologies are transformative and will have
profound effects in the not-too-far future will either be seen as, or
will cause, hype. And people disagreeing with us on the fundamental
values of transformation can easily turn the hype into scaremongering.
And when the technology doesn't arrive immediately many will also claim
it was only hype and go back to ignoring it - only to be shocked a while
later.
There is a subtle balance here: we need to make good cases for these
technologies and how they can be used well, but we have to avoid
over-hyping them in the eyes of the mainstream. We have to counter the
opposition with good social, philosophical and regulatory arguments
before they even get started, and somehow make these arguments spread.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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