Friday, February 13, 2004

Drexler: More Empty Arguments


Dear Howard,

A recent review of Daniel and Mark Ratner's book, "Nanotechnology and Homeland Security," highlights the current tactics of the denialist camp.

The Ratners embrace stain resistant pants as "real nanotechnology," but label the original Feynman nanotechnology concepts of molecular assembly as "science fiction", relegated to a section entitled "What Nanotechnology is Not."

Following the example of Richard Smalley and others, the Ratners choose to attack straw men of their own fabrication instead of addressing the scientific literature or the specifics of molecular physics and engineering.

These false denials of real opportunities and dangers, coupled with a questionable PR strategy, make the nanotech industry increasingly vulnerable to a public backlash.

Best wishes,
-- Eric Drexler

Related Posts:
Drexler on Drexlerians
The Impossible Dream
Drexler: 'Bait and Switch -- The Coverup'

Discuss


Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing & Computation
Engines of Creation


No comments: