- CALL FOR PAPERS -
HYLE: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry
http://www.hyle.org
&
TECHNE: Journal of the Society for Philosophy and Technology
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/SPT/
invite papers for a joint special issue on
N A N O T E C H C H A L L E N G E S
Some fifteen years ago, when the term 'nanotechology' was almost
unknown, ideas about molecular manufacturing or 'producing new materials
at the nanometer scale' would clearly have been associated with
synthetic chemistry or materials science. Today, almost all of the
natural and engineering sciences are engaged in nanotechnology, in some
disciplines even as much as 10 per cent. The rapid emergence and growth
of nanotechnology across the disciplines, fuelled by visions of a new
technological revolution and huge governmental funding, present many
great challenges not only to scientists and engineers, but also to those
whose profession is to reflect on science and technology and their place
in society.
With their particular audiences of philosophers of technology and
philosophers of chemistry, respectively, TECHNE and HYLE join forces to
address these challenges. Since we, the editors of the journals, believe
that the two audiences share too much interest in this topic to go
separate ways, we have decided to undertake the experiment of
cooperative journal editing. We particularly welcome papers on one or
more topics of the following non-exclusive list.
DISCIPLINARY CHALLENGES
- Is nanotechnology a distinct field that can be clearly defined and
distinguished from established scientific and engineering disciplines?
- Does nanotechnology necessarily require or actually establish new
relationships between the classical discipline? Is it a multi-, inter-,
or transdisciplinary field or an emerging new hybrid-discipline?
- Does nanotechnology undermine or require revision of the classical
distinction between science and technology?
EPISTEMOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
- What is the epistemological status of current visions about future
achievements of nanotechnology?
- Does the emphasis on the visualization and control of the nano-sphere
suggest an epistemological change with reference to the epistemology of
chemistry, physics, or other natural sciences?
- Do we need to reconsider the epistemological role of instruments in
nanotechnological research?
ONTOLOGICAL & METAPHYSICAL CHALLENGES
- Does nanotechnology undermine the nature-artifact distinction in a way
unknown in former technologies and sciences?
- Do nanotechnological ideas about human enhancement and
human-machine-interfaces undermine the human-nonhuman distinction and
the notion of a person?
- Is nanotechnology driven by metaphysical ideas about nature or
religious ideas about man?
ETHICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
- Do nanotechnological products and processes require new ethical and
legal standards of assessment?
- Are the specific goals of nanotechnology consistent with each other
and with socially accepted values?
- What kinds of normative ideas and emotions are mediated by the public
images nanotechnology?
- Does the current nano-hype, with its alchemical promises such as
longevity and enormous wealth, result in the well-known series of public
frustration and hostility? Is it possible to indentify the actors who
benefit from and who lose in this version of an apparently recurrent
game?
Manuscripts should follow the general Guidelines for Contributions,
available on the HYLE website. Inquiries regarding suitability of
submissions may be send to one or both of the Editors. Authors may
indicate in which journal they would prefer to have their paper
published, although the final decision will be made by the Editors. Send
electronic submissions to Joachim Schummer not later than June 30, 2004
in appropriate form for anonymous reviews.
Davis Baird, Editor of TECHNE ([log in to unmask])
Joachim Schummer, Editor of HYLE ([log in to unmask])
For more information, please visit
http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/9-2/cfp_nano.htm
___________________________________________________________________
Dr. Joachim Schummer
Editor, HYLE: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry
http://www.hyle.org/
[log in to unmask] Fax: +49-69-791235861
Dept of Philosophy, Univ of South Carolina, Columbia SC 29208, USA
[log in to unmask] Fax +1-803-777-9178 Phone +1-803-777-2221
___________________________________________________________________
|
