Nanosocialism
Encyclopedia
Nanosocialism refers generally to a set of economic theories
of social organization advocating state
or collective
ownership and administration of the research, development
and use of nanotechnology
.
to guide state intervention in the effort to manage the transition to a society
revolutionized by molecular nanotechnology
.
"Nanosocialism" is a term coined by David M. Berube, the associate director of Nanoscience and Technology Studies at the USC NanoCenter, who argues that nanotechnological projections need to be tempered by technorealism
about the implications of nanotechnology
in a technocapitalist society, but that its applications also offer enormous opportunities for economic abundance and social progress
.
Transhuman Space
, nanosocialism is described as a descendant of infosocialism
, in which intellectual property
is nationalized
and distributed by the state. It is adopted by some developing nations to counter the hold corporations from wealthier nations have on copyright
s and patent
s. This fictional version of nanosocialism was coined by David L. Pulver
, the game's creator, who was unaware that the term had already been used by Berube.
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
of social organization advocating state
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
or collective
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
ownership and administration of the research, development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
and use of nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
.
Politics
Nanosocialism is a stance that favors participatory politicsParticipatory politics
Participatory politics or parpolity is a theoretical political system proposed by Stephen R. Shalom, professor of political science at William Paterson University in New Jersey....
to guide state intervention in the effort to manage the transition to a society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
revolutionized by molecular nanotechnology
Molecular nanotechnology
Molecular nanotechnology is a technology based on the ability to build structures to complex, atomic specifications by means of mechanosynthesis. This is distinct from nanoscale materials...
.
"Nanosocialism" is a term coined by David M. Berube, the associate director of Nanoscience and Technology Studies at the USC NanoCenter, who argues that nanotechnological projections need to be tempered by technorealism
Technorealism
Technorealism is an attempt to expand the middle ground between Techno-utopianism and Neo-Luddism by assessing the social and political implications of technologies so that people might all have more control over the shape of their future...
about the implications of nanotechnology
Implications of nanotechnology
The impact of nanotechnology extend from its medical, ethical, mental, legal and environmental applications, to fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, computing, materials science, military applications, and communications....
in a technocapitalist society, but that its applications also offer enormous opportunities for economic abundance and social progress
Social progress
Social progress is the idea that societies can or do improve in terms of their social, political, and economic structures. This may happen as a result of direct human action, as in social enterprise or through social activism, or as a natural part of sociocultural evolution...
.
In popular culture
In the role-playing gameRole-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
Transhuman Space
Transhuman Space
Transhuman Space is a role-playing game published by Steve Jackson Games as parts of the "Powered by GURPS" line. Set in the year 2100, humanity has begun to colonize the Solar System...
, nanosocialism is described as a descendant of infosocialism
Infosocialism
Infosocialism was originally a philosophy created by David Pulver, Jon F. Zeigler and Sean Punch for the Transhuman Space role-playing game. However, while it was created as a fiction it has found real-world adherents....
, in which intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
is nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
and distributed by the state. It is adopted by some developing nations to counter the hold corporations from wealthier nations have on copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
s and patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s. This fictional version of nanosocialism was coined by David L. Pulver
David L. Pulver
David L. Pulver is a Canadian freelance writer and game designer, with a History degree from Queen's University...
, the game's creator, who was unaware that the term had already been used by Berube.