Re: Nanotechnology and the World System

Thomas McCarthy's article on Nanotechnology

I found disconcerting McCarthy's use of  - nanotechnology *will*  do 
this, and nanotechnology *will* result in that.  Unless there is 
overwhelming evidence to support a claim, it is appropriate to use 
less dogmatic language.

It seems that much of McCarthy's reasoning and extrapolations 
are bult on the premise that nanotechnology will provide a Cornucopia 
of new wealth.  

Before we can have a constructive exploration of possible implications 
and scenarios stemming from the development of nanotechnology, I 
believe we need 
- some definitions, 
- an idea of the progress of nanotechnology to date (would integrated
circuits be classified as nanotechnology ?), 
- a range of specific examples of the potential for nanotechnology (the
most commonly cited seems to be use in the human body for diagnosis 
purposes).
- and some projections from experts in the field.
- some sort of estimated time frame for the various stages of development 
of the technology

Remember, in 1950 we expected everyone to have robots in their homes by 
1970.  Nuclear fusion research has not come up with a power plant after 
40 years.  A moon base is 10-20 years behind schedule and likely 
to be another 30 years off, possibly much more.

It still needs to be demonstrated just how nanotechnology may cause a 
radical change to the World System in the next few decades/half century.

It could be that technology will be the defining resource of the 21stC as 
McCarthy suggests which could lead to greater equity and/or harmony or 
to greater inequity and/or competition leading to conflict.  

If technology becomes the defining resource in the world power game, 
information technology, robotics, genetic engineering and nanotechnology 
are likely to be front contenders.  

(To what extent is the current US economic boom riding on its significant 
lead in information technology ?  And to what extent is it a result of a 
strong entrepreneurial culture, or a happy coincidence of factors such as 
the 
migration of capital after the Asian crisis, which look impressive before 
the bubble bursts ?).


For technology to become the key resource of the 21st C may depend on 
the extent they can be monopolised, and the extent to which they are 
developed by public institutions and made available to the international 
Commons.

The key issue is possibly more about science and technology 
policy and democratisation, than it is about emerging technologies per se.


Geoff Holland.

At 07:27 PM 03/16/2000 -0800, you wrote:
>
>I would like to start a new thread with the paper
>at this URL as the referrence topic.
>
>http://www.mccarthy.cx/WorldSystem/index.htm
>
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