Encyclopedia > Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies was founded in 2004 by philosopher Nick Bostrom and bioethicist James Hughes. The IEET is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the United States. The IEET’s Board of Directors currently come from Spain, Canada, the UK and the United States. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nick Bostrom is a philosopher at the University of Oxford, and known for his work on the anthropic principle. ... James Hughes Ph. ...
By "promoting and publicizing the work of thinkers who examine the social implications of scientific and technological advance," the IEET seeks to contribute to the understanding of the impact of emerging technologies on individuals and societies. The institute also seeks involvement in the shaping of public policies that "distribute the benefits and reduce the risks of technological advancement."
The Institute works closely with the World Transhumanist Association, an international membership-based nonprofit organization with similar goals, also founded and chaired by Dr. Bostrom, and which is also served by Dr. Hughes as its Executive Director. The World Transhumanist Association is a non-profit organization which advocates the ethical use of genetic, cybernetic, nano and other advanced technology to expand human capacities. ...
External Links
Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (http://ieet.org/) - Website
These proposed technology clusters are typically abbreviated by such combinations of letters as NBIC (standing for Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science) or GNR, (for Genetics, Nanotechnology and Robotics).
By contrast, Ray Kurzweil and Damien Broderick are among those who believe that emergingtechnologies will aid significantly in eliminating poverty and much human misery.
NBIC, an acronym standing for Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology, and Cognitive science, is currently the most popular term for emergingtechnologies, and was introduced to majority through the publication of Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance, a report produced in part by the National Science Foundation.