The Social Impacts of Nanotechnology: an Ethical and Political Analysis

Sparrow, Robert

doi:10.1007/s11673-009-9139-4

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Sparrow 13 argues that we should be talking about 'nanotechnologies' instead of nanotechnology, as the technology is a microcosm of the whole innovation ecosystem. For example, the value chain of nanotechnology is incredibly long as it stretches from nanomaterials to nano intermediates to nano-enabled products.…”

Section: Challenges In Assessing the Impact Of Nanotechnology On Devementioning

confidence: 99%

Nanotechnology in South Africa – Challenges in evaluating the impact on development

Saidi¹,

Douglas²

2017

S. Afr. J. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nanotechnology has captured global attention as the technological platform of the next industrial revolution. 1 South Africa is one of the few countries from the global South that have adopted nanotechnology with the aim of enhancing global competitiveness and sustainable economic growth. As early as 2005, South Africa displayed an interest in nanotechnology by publishing and subsequently implementing the nanotechnology strategy and an associated 10-year plan.2 The strategy explicitly outlined the country's niche areas in the application of nanotechnology, namely water, energy, health care, chemical-and bio-processing, mining and minerals, and advanced materials and manufacturing.3 The applications focused specifically on areas that were expected to benefit the country, as the overall goal was to support development. About 10 years have elapsed since the strategy was implemented and the question has inevitably arisen as to how the technology has contributed to the development of the country. We argue that it is not easy to measure the impact of nanotechnology on development. South Africa's nanotechnology strategyThe South African National Nanotechnology Strategy focuses on four priority areas of intervention: the establishment of characterisation centres (national multi-user facilities), the creation of research and innovation networks (to enhance interdisciplinary, national and international collaboration), the building of human capacity, and the establishment of flagship projects (to demonstrate the benefits of nanotechnology).4 These interventions are meant to facilitate the realisation of the country's vision of economic growth, poverty reduction and enhancing quality of life. The strategy identifies two development clusters -industrial and social.3 The former targets mining, minerals, chemical-and bio-processing, and materials and manufacturing, while the latter focuses on the provision of clean and purified water, affordable and renewable energy, and improved primary health care.

show abstract

Section: Challenges In Assessing the Impact Of Nanotechnology On Devementioning

confidence: 99%

Nanotechnology in South Africa – Challenges in evaluating the impact on development

Saidi¹,

Douglas²

2017

S. Afr. J. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These issues, arising out of the use of nanotechnology and nanomedicine for human enhancement, have been debated from a variety of perspectives-philosophical, ethical, social, and political-and the discussion has come to focus on the following questions (Sparrow 2009 ):…”

Section: Nanotechnologies and Human Enhancement: Ethical And Social Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsibility in Nanotechnology Development

Arnaldi¹,

Ferrari²,

Magaudda³

et al. 2014

The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Some see one role of academics as the amplification of the voice of the voiceless [17]. The very field of nanotechnology has as one goal the democratization of the field meaning that stakeholders are heard right at the beginning [28] which in order to be successful has to fulfill certain parameters [25]. As outlined earlier in this paper, disabled people are underrepresented in nanotechnology linked discourses.…”

Section: Bringing Disabled People’s and Science And Technology Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoscale Science and Technology and People with Disabilities in Asia: An Ability Expectation Analysis

Wolbring

Ball

2012

Nanoethics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Science and technology, including nanoscale science and technology, influences and is influenced by various discourses and areas of action. Ableism is one concept and ability expectation is one dynamic that impacts the direction, vision, and application of nanoscale science and technology and vice versa. At the same time, policy documents that involve or relate to disabled people exhibit ability expectations of disabled people. The authors present ability expectations exhibited within two science and technology direction documents from Asia, as well as in two policy documents generated and influenced by disabled people from Asia. As well, the authors discuss the impact of the ability expectations exhibited in these four documents with respect to the relationship between science and technology and disabled people.

show abstract

The Social Impacts of Nanotechnology: an Ethical and Political Analysis

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Nanotechnology in South Africa – Challenges in evaluating the impact on development

Nanotechnology in South Africa – Challenges in evaluating the impact on development

Responsibility in Nanotechnology Development

Nanoscale Science and Technology and People with Disabilities in Asia: An Ability Expectation Analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About