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Author(s):
Seumas Miller
Series Title
Springer International Publishing
Abstract

It first explains the concept of dual use and then offers analyses of collective knowledge and collective ignorance. It goes on to present a theory of collective responsibility, followed by four chapters focusing on a particular scientific field or industry of dual use concern: the chemical industry, the nuclear industry, cyber-technology and the biological sciences.

Concluding remarks
The problem of dual-use science research and technology arises because such research and technology has the potential to be used for great evil as well as for great good. On the one hand, knowledge is a necessary condition, and perhaps a constitutive feature, of technologies that contribute greatly to individual and collective well-being. Consider, for example, nuclear technology that enables the generation of low cost electricity in populations without obvious alternative energy sources. So technological knowledge is a good thing and ignorance of it a bad thing. On the other hand, these same technologies can be extremely harmful to individuals and collectives, as with the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So, at least with respect to some technologies evidently knowledge is a bad thing and ignorance a good thing. Accordingly, the question arises as to whether we ought to limit scientific research and/or the development of technology and, if so, which research or technology, in what manner and to what extent. This book examines the answer to that question.

Reference details

DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-92606-3
Resource type
Book
Year of Publication
2018
ISSN Number
2211-8101
Publication Area
Dual-use cybersecurity
Date Published
2018

How to cite this reference:

Miller, S. (2018). Dual Use Science and Technology, Ethics and Weapons of Mass Destruction. In Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92606-3 (Original work published 2018)