Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) was founded in 2004 by philosopher Nick Bostrom and bioethicist James Hughes. Incorporated in the United States as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the IEET is a self-described "technoprogressive think tank" that seeks to contribute to understanding of the likely impact of emerging technologies on individuals and societies. It proposes to do so by "promoting and publicizing the work of thinkers who examine the social implications of scientific and technological advance". A number of such thinkers are offered honorary positions as IEET Fellows. The institute also aims to influence the development of public policies that distribute the benefits and reduce the risks of technological change.cite paper| author = Bailey, Ronald| title = The Right to Human Enhancement: And also uplifting animals and the rapture of the nerds| date = 2006 | url = http://www.reason.com/news/show/116489.html| accessdate=2007-03-03] The IEET works with the World Transhumanist Association (WTA), an international non-governmental organization with a similar mission but with an activist rather than academic approach. The WTA was also founded and chaired by Dr. Bostrom, and formerly served by Dr. Hughes as its executive director. However, unlike the WTA, the founders of the IEET claim that it is not a transhumanist organization. Individuals who have accepted appointments as Fellows with the IEET support the institute's mission, but they have expressed a wide range of views about emerging technologies and not all identify themselves as transhumanists.

The IEET publishes an on-line, peer reviewed, academic journal entitled, the "Journal of Evolution and Technology" at the JET Press website. The JET was previously known as the "Journal of Transhumanism", but changed its name and focus in order to expand its contributorship to include those who do not self-identify with the ideology. [cite website|title=Journal for Evolution and Technology|url=http://www.jetpress.org/]

In late May 2006, the IEET held the Human Enhancement Technologies and Human Rights conference at the Stanford University Law School in Stanford, California. [cite website|title=Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies - Human Enhancement Technologies and Human Rights|url=http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/HETHR]

Programs

In 2006, the IEET launched the following programs of activity: [cite website|title=Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies - Programs and Activities|url=http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/programs]
#"Securing the Future": Identification and advocacy for global solutions to threats to the future of civilization.
#"Rights of the Person": Campaign to deepen and broaden the concept of human rights.
#"Longer, Better Lives": Case for longer healthier lives, addressing objections to life extension, challenge ageist and ableist attitudes that discourage the full utilization of health technology.
#"Envisioning the Future": Collection of images of posthumanity and non-human intelligence, positive, negative and neutral, e.g. in science fiction and popular culture; engagement with cultural critics, artists, writers, and filmmakers in exploring the lessons to be derived from these.

Reactions

The origins and activities of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies have elicited various reactions:

References

ee also

Directors
*George Dvorsky
*Giulio Prisco
*James Hughes
*Nick Bostrom

Fellows
*Aubrey de Grey
*Douglas Rushkoff
*Jamais Cascio
*Russell Blackford
*Mark Alan Walker
*Marshall Brain
*Ramez Naam
*Riccardo Campa
*Wrye Sententia

Advisors
*Martine Rothblatt

External links

* [http://ieet.org/ Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies]
* " [http://www.jetpress.org/ Journal for Evolution and Technology] "