Definition of Nanotechnology
I've been trying to define nanotechnology for quite some time now. One idea was to say its just a new word for alchemy. For example:
"Nanotechnology can be qualitatively understood as an approach to alchemy that is based on the current model of matter."
Alchemy, the Next Generation
What do you think?
"Nanotechnology can be qualitatively understood as an approach to alchemy that is based on the current model of matter."
Alchemy, the Next Generation
What do you think?
posted by Steve Lenhert at 4:38 PM
3 Comments:
I think this is a very well written analogy between nanotechnology and alchemy. However, I think that the general public thinks of magic when they hear references to alchemy...wizards turning lead into gold for example, and the public should understand that there is no magic involved in nanotechnology...only hard work.
However, again, I can also see the analogy between the magical aspects of both alchemy and nanotechnology. If alchemy were ever succesful it would certainly have seemed like magic. And, as nanotechnology becomes more and more succesful, the results will certainly seem more and more like magic!
Will or will not people in general think of alchemy as magic. I am not sure. A recent Swedish study conlcuded that about 50 % of people in general belive that astrology is as much science as astronomy, or any other branch of science for that matter. Now, from this Swedish study I cannot say much about the rest of the world. On the other hand, Sweden is probably one of the most secular countries in the western world, from which you may think that people rely upon logic and rationality. Obviously, this is not true. Therefore, I think it is somewhat dangerous to mix words like science and alchmey on the same footing, since then one might get more reasons to belive that alchemy, magic, astrology, etc, actually are science in the sense we know it from physics, chemistry and so forth.
However, I can see the point in your analogy, and in the end of the blog you make a marked distinction between alchemy, wishing to transmute lead to gold for example, and nanotechnology.
I appreciate both of your thoughts.
As the well-cited quote from Arthur Clark goes, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
And as my boss once said, "We can turn lead into gold, but its not economical."
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