Analogical reasoning in handling emerging technologies: the case of umbilical cord blood biobanking.

How are we individually and as a society to handle new and emerging technologies? This challenging question underlies much of the bioethical debates of modern times. To address this question we need suitable conceptions of the new technology and ways of identifying its proper management and regulati...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Journal of Bioethics Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 49 - 58
Autores principales: Hofmann B, Solbakk JH, Holm S
Formato: review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Nov2006
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:How are we individually and as a society to handle new and emerging technologies? This challenging question underlies much of the bioethical debates of modern times. To address this question we need suitable conceptions of the new technology and ways of identifying its proper management and regulation. To establish conceptions and to find ways to handle emerging technologies we tend to use analogies extensively. The aim of this article is to investigate the role that analogies play or may play in the processes of understanding and managing new technology. More precisely we aim to unveil the role of analogies as analytical devices in exploring the 'being' of the new technology as well the normative function of analogies in conceptualizing the characteristics and applications of new technology. Umbilical cord blood biobanking will be used as a case to investigate these roles and functions.