Nanotechnology: Beyond Human Nature?

• Main Author: Cabrera, Laura
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Linköpings universitet, Centrum för tillämpad etik 2007
• Subjects: nanotechnology; posthuman; therapy; enhancement; cyborg; ethics; Technology and social change; Teknik och social förändring
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-9174

Nanotechnology plays an important role in today’s society because it allows convergence to the nanoscale, that is to say to the level of atoms and molecules, as part of a miniaturization trend; and also because it is being used for improving human performance or enhancement. Nanotechnology will have a tremendous impact thanks to its potentialities, and the human desire for enhancement - and for some even the desire to reach a posthuman stage. Since nanotechnology-based human applications – cyborgs and implants – might represent a threat to what defines us as humans, namely our human nature, a different approach on the distinction between therapy and enhancement is needed in order to handle those applications in a wiser and more responsible way. This thesis will work on such approach.