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Unbounding the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution
a book by K. Eric Drexler and and Chris Peterson and Gayle Pergamit
(our site's book review)
To arrive at a world that is fit to live in, we will all need a better view of the open paths
They say that “. . . to arrive at a world that is fit to live in, we will all need a better view of the open paths.” The path this book will be “What If”-ing about is the one in which molecular nanotechnology and its products replace modern technology, which the authors consider “almost inevitable.” If such a thing comes to pass, “. . . we will all be much richer,” due to the extreme cost reductions involved in programming itty bitty machines to make whatever we need.
Nanotechnology offers a huge range of opportunities for benefit and a huge range of opportunities for misuse
The main thing to remember about these “inevitable” technologies is that they simultaneously offer: “. . . a huge range of opportunities for benefit and a huge range of opportunities for misuse.”
Noting that the cultural lag is as dangerous and scary as ever, isn’t this just our next weapon of mass destruction—another loaded shotgun in the hands of the baby of human culture? And isn’t it true that unless we improve our cultures [via MCs, hopefully—see Why Register for an MC?], our chances of surviving our dangerous technological experiments continues to diminish? This, we’re sad to say, is the underlying significance of the nanotechnology revolution in our future.
According to the authors, Tofflerian future shock up until 1991 was nothing compared to the future shock in store when the nanotechnologists take over making things.
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