Martine RothblattTerasem Movement, Inc.

2012 July 20

Geoethical Rules for Nanotechnological Advances

Nanotechnological Advances

• Manufacturing at Sub-Micron Sizes

• Self-Replicating Sub-Micron Machines

• Biotechnological Medicines

• Synthetic Genomics• Molecular Computing

Geoethical Rules

• Principle of Consent– Obtain prior terms of

consent from such others, or their representatives, who may foreseeably be materially and adversely affected by one’s life science actions.

• Principle of Compliance– Act pursuant to the

Principle of Consent strictly in accordance with independent assurance of one’s compliance with.

Cultural Universality of Geoethics

• Fundamental Fairness, or Equal Protection

• Evolutionary Tendency Toward Categorization

• Nature of Consciousness• Darwinian Group

Selection– Sir Francis Bacon: “If we

do not maintain Justice, then Justice will not maintain us”

Beyond the Borders of Bioethics

• Autonomy– Who do we ask?

• Beneficence– Good for whom?

• Non-Malfeasance– Avoid harm to whom?

• Justice– Fair to whom?

Practicality of Geoethics: Consent

• Scientific Determination of who may be “materially and adversely affected”

• Legal Determination of Adequacy of Representative Consent

• Very Proactionary, Without Forsaking Precaution

Practicality of Geoethics: Compliance

• Legal Determination of “Independent Assurance” with Terms of Consent

• Transparency• Lack of Conflicts• Demonstrated

Expertise

Bioethics is a Subset of Geoethics

Geoethics

Why Wasn’t Informed Consent Enough for Bioethics if Enough for Geoethics?

• Bioethics Obtains Consent from Individuals, Who Are Weak & Unable to Negotiate Terms

• Requirements for Beneficence and Non-Malfeasance Helped Make Up for Weak Individual Autonomy

• Geoethics Obtains Consent from Populations, Not Individuals, Providing Negotiating Strength

• Aspects of Beneficence and Non-Malfeasance Will Be Taken Into Account in Granting Geoethical Consent

Society for Accelerating Geoethical Advances in Nanotechnology

(SAGAN)• Formed by Treaty And

Scientific Peer Pressure• Actions Involving

Nanotech Must First Be Cleared by SAGAN

• SAGAN Must Decide Within 100 Days if Proposed Nanotech “May Forseeably Materially & Adversely Affect Others”

SAGAN Governing Procedures• If No Scientific Evidence

of Forseeable Material & Adverse Harm, Then SAGAN Must Authorize Proposed Nanotech Per Proactionary Principle of Max More

• If Such Harm Is Foreseeable, SAGAN Must Seek Prior Consent of Affected Populations Via Their Representatives

SAGAN Consent Procedures• National Processes, If

Consistent with Respect for Autonomy

• Public Opinion Surveys if Consistent with Informed Consent

• Majority Is Good Enough Because Democracy Accepts That for Other Risks

• If Consent Cannot Be Obtained, Then the Nanotech Cannot Cause Risk in that Geography

SAGAN Compliance Procedures• Effector of Nanotech

Must Provide Independent Funding of Means of Compliance with Terms of Consent

• Endowment or User Fees• Compliance Organization

Must Have Authority to Terminate Nanotech Operations if Consent Violated

• Change the Geography of the Nanotech– Outer Space– Seasteading

• Change the Risk Profile of the Nanotech

• Agree to Stricter Terms of Consent for the Nanotech

Alternatives for Nanotech Unable to Meet Geoethical Rules