Comments on: Nanotechnology for cognitive enhancement: okay or not http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380 examining transformative technology Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:23:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Anonymous http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-88986 Anonymous Mon, 01 Jan 2007 22:26:25 +0000 http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-88986 Im doing research for FLL (First Lego League) and would like to get more facts on this subject. Is this just a cup of coffee on a nano scale? I've heard of a parasite that infects ants in Africa and acts as the intelligence for the ant for a period of time while the parasite slowly consumes the ant. Is this what you are talking about in terms of brainwashing? Im doing research for FLL (First Lego League) and would like to get more facts on this subject. Is this just a cup of coffee on a nano scale? I’ve heard of a parasite that infects ants in Africa and acts as the intelligence for the ant for a period of time while the parasite slowly consumes the ant. Is this what you are talking about in terms of brainwashing?

]]> By: Adam http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-75565 Adam Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:42:26 +0000 http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-75565 Philosophy aside, I feel that this entire argument comes down to the degree of education in society. Certainly people reading this blog will consider themselves the educated few, but from my experience people don't know about nanotechnology and simply aren't interested in learning any more. I believe government "should" be making these kind of decisions in the best interests of the people, in this case, when the people really don't know what they are making decisions about. So while it would be reasonable to, in the case of nano-dot readers, ascribe to laissez-faire, I think it would be ultimately irresponsible to allow an uneducated populace to make decisions like this one for itself. What do you all think, is the level of educating required for such free decision making really feasible? I think we all know how coffee works by now. Philosophy aside, I feel that this entire argument comes down to the degree of education in society. Certainly people reading this blog will consider themselves the educated few, but from my experience people don’t know about nanotechnology and simply aren’t interested in learning any more.

I believe government “should” be making these kind of decisions in the best interests of the people, in this case, when the people really don’t know what they are making decisions about.

So while it would be reasonable to, in the case of nano-dot readers, ascribe to laissez-faire, I think it would be ultimately irresponsible to allow an uneducated populace to make decisions like this one for itself. What do you all think, is the level of educating required for such free decision making really feasible? I think we all know how coffee works by now.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-75253 Anonymous Tue, 12 Dec 2006 05:25:26 +0000 http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-75253 Christine- I'm in agreement with you on this. Is pluralistic somehow different from elite? They can be the same of course. PM Christine-

I’m in agreement with you on this. Is pluralistic somehow different from elite? They can be the same of course.

PM

]]> By: Kyle Haviland http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-75247 Kyle Haviland Tue, 12 Dec 2006 04:32:18 +0000 http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=2380#comment-75247 I would love to have a better memory. That is a wish i imagine millions of Alzheimers patients share. If it's a question of ethics then I personally couldn't imagine anything more ethical then giving someone back their memory or "essence." On the other hand there is a danger of abuse. There are brainwashing techniques already available to change someone's memory. The abuse of nanotech for this purpose is a frightening thought to me. How would an individual know if they were being manipulated? This question of the ethicalness of cognitive augmentation is not a new one, but until the technology is actually available to do these feats it will be a question that will remain in the realm of science fiction. I would love to have a better memory. That is a wish i imagine millions of Alzheimers patients share. If it’s a question of ethics then I personally couldn’t imagine anything more ethical then giving someone back their memory or “essence.”

On the other hand there is a danger of abuse. There are brainwashing techniques already available to change someone’s memory. The abuse of nanotech for this purpose is a frightening thought to me. How would an individual know if they were being manipulated?

This question of the ethicalness of cognitive augmentation is not a new one, but until the technology is actually available to do these feats it will be a question that will remain in the realm of science fiction.

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