Is Nanotechnology the Key to Happiness?
Nanotechnology has been called a great many things--the great leveler, the panacea to all that ails the world, the technology that will allow us to solve all of our problems from world hunger to pollution.
But this month, at nanotechnow.com, Tihamer Toth-Fejel makes the rather provocative claim that the "exponential nanomanufacturing capabilities of Productive Nanosystems will simply enable us" to fulfill human needs and desires (of all kinds" better. That's a pretty sweeping statement, if you ask me. And I'm pretty sure that I don't buy it. In fact, I'm pretty sure that if that were true it would come at such a radical cost or at least change to the world as we know it that we wouldn't recognize our world, or ourselves, in this "Productive Nanosystem Planet" Toth-Fejel describes.
But you don't have to take my word for it. You can read his argument yourself and decide whether you think nanotechnology is the key to fulfilling all human desires, wealth and happiness. I just wouldn't bet the bank (or mine), or my future's happiness, on it.
Summer Johnson, PhD
contribute a comment
Your contributions to the conversation are very much appreciated. We do have a few simple guidelines, though. Be civil. Stay on topic. We reserve the right to remove comments that violate the aforementioned guidelines. One more thing: comments are moderated, so it may take a little while for your comment to be posted. Thanks.











comments
I do not think this will happen. Technological developments will fulfill the needs of some group of people in the world, but majority will not be able to do that. Furthermore, new technologies also will make their own problems.
- by nanotürkiye on Oct 18, 2009 at 10:17 AM | link