The ethics of nanotechnology, or nanoethics, examines ethical and social issues that arise around the research, development, and use of nanotechnology and its practical applications. Almost everything about nanoethics has been in dispute – even whether there is any need for it – but a case can be made that a cluster of ethical questions arises around nanotechnologies and that these require attention, whether or not it is a completely new area. Initially, following from the work of Eric Drexler, concerns were raised about possible consequences of self‐replicating machines, including the supposed “grey goo” danger. The actual development of nanoethics has been rather more mundane, much of the discussion on methodological questions being about how to study the ethics of a technology that is in the very early stages of development. Much applied ethics is reactive, for example, examining problems arising from the uses of certain technologies. In the case of nanotechnology, a more proactive approach was required, which involved careful analysis of the potential risks of new technologies. Of particular concern was potential risks raised by certain manufactured nanoparticles. Nanotechnologies are typical seen as enabling technologies, that is, they enable others such as computing and medical technologies. Discussions therefore frequently overlap with those areas with, for example, questions about increased surveillance capabilities and improved human enhancement. Recently, ethical issues relating to molecular manufacturing – or atomically precise manufacturing, as it is been called – have resurfaced.