The debut issue of "Nanoethics"

The Chronicle of Higher Education:

Nanoethics is an emerging discipline with plenty of question marks, writes John Weckert, a senior lecturer in information technology at Charles Sturt University, in Australia, and the editor in chief of this new publication. The journal, he says, will seek 'to advance the examination of ethical and social issues surrounding nanotechnologies in a philosophically rigorous and scientifically informed manner.'

Many of the questions surrounding nanoethics are fundamental, he writes. For instance, 'Is there nanotechnology or are there nanotechnologies? If there is a nanotechnology, what is it, and if there are nanotechnologies, what is it that they all have in common?' Nanoethics will focus on these types of uncertainties, says Mr. Weckert, as well as on 'the impacts or likely impacts of these technologies.'

There is an urgent need to confront many of the issues created by nanotechnology, adds Mr. Weckert. 'A good example is privacy," he writes, "given the fact that nanotechnologies will enable more sophisticated monitoring and surveillance technology." ...