Lure of the “Yes”: The Seductive Power of Technoscience

Developments in the Debate on Nanoethics: Traditional Approaches and the Need for New Kinds of Analysis

“…However, precisely because the Code is articulated so as to express different needs and interests, its framework-responsibility-remains vague and imprecisely defined (cf. Nordmann and Schwarz [114]). At the same time, 'virtuous' behaviour is an implicit result of responding to the obligations expressed through these different principles.…”

“…Thus it seems that 'responsible development' is possible precisely because we all engage in such dialogic processes and because our efforts are orientated towards it, so that we no longer need to fear anything from these technologies. This process, or new attitude, in the governance of emerging technologies (not specifically the Code of Conduct) has been identified in the Report of the Expert Group on regimes of innovation [52] as a profound form of ambivalence characteristic of the governance of new technosciences, 29 and by Nordmann and Schwarz [114] as a form of power and seduction (the 'lure of the yes') in the governance of nano. 30 Beyond the call for general engagement towards responsible development, many authors have highlighted the need for reflection on the epistemological problems raised by nanotechnologies-in particular, on the profound significance of uncertainty and the limits of knowledge when referring to the molecular and atomic scales.…”

Green Dreams of Reason. Green Nanotechnology Between Visions of Excess and Control

“…The group is very nearly alone in calling for a moratorium on nanotechnological products and procedures. 9 What kind of surrender might drive this permanent transgression, and what the seductive power is that draws it, is developed in another paper entitled 'The lure of the "yes"' [21]. I return to this issue later on.…”

“…Here, too, the societal significance of grüne Nanotechnologie was emphasised; here, too, the 'potential for protecting the environment-enablers of new technologies' was affirmed; and here, too, this vote was carried by an alliance consisting of politicians, business people and scientists. 21 Finally, mention should be made of the conference 'nanoECO: Nanoparticles in the environment-implications and applications', which differs from the other two events mentioned above in that it had a decidedly scientific focus, was very 18 See http://www.forumnano.org (last accessed 25.8.08). The slogan could also simply be 'green is on the advance'-even a merely superficial glance at the media indicates that the terms 'eco' and 'green' are experiencing something of a revival: In a famous German talkshow, the executive director of the Social Democrats, H. Heil, proclaimed: 'We need an ecological industrial policy' (Anne Will Show, July 13.2008).…”

“…The products' names are 'SEALnGLIDE+glaze', produced by the company Holmenkol Sport-Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, and 'TCnano ApS' by TCnano from Denmark respectively. 21 international in orientation, and took place in Switzerland. 22 Grüne Nanotechnologie (and green nanotechnology), in the sense of a societally and locally contextualised programme, was addressed only tangentially here.…”