Ethical risks of frontier science and technology:An escalating threat
Science and technology(S&T)are not only powerful tools for development,but also a source of risk.The new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are accelerating in current times.It deeply influences and fundamentally reshapes human production and life,which can raise a range of known and unknown ethical risks,involving individual rights and interests,social stability,national security,as well as sustainable development of mankind.This study summarizes the characteristics of ethical risks in frontier S&T,including the dependence on related fields,high uncertainty,social reconstruction,and ultimate challenge.Considering the risks in various fields,this study illustrates the risks from seven aspects,including security risk,life risk,privacy risk,environmental risk,moral risk,disaster risk,and technological overlay risk.Based on these,this study provides holistic suggestions for constructing S&T ethical governance system,coping with the ethical risks of frontier S&T,and clarifying the key points of governance and the safety barriers.
frontier science and technologyethicsrisksgovernance