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Integrative Convergence in Neuroscience: Trajectories, Problems, and the Need for a Progressive Neurobioethics

Convergence in Neuroscience – The Need for Neurobioethics

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Technological Innovations in Sensing and Detection of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Threats and Ecological Terrorism

Abstract

The advanced integrative scientific convergence (AISC) model represents a viable approach to neuroscience. Beyond simple multi-disciplinarity, the AISC model unifies constituent scientific and technological fields to foster innovation, invention and new ways of addressing seemingly intractable questions. In this way, AISC can yield novel methods and foster new trajectories of knowledge and discovery, and yield new epistemologies. As stand-alone disciplines, each and all of the constituent fields generate practical and ethical issues, and their convergence may establish a unique set of both potential benefits and problems. To effectively attend to these contingencies requires pragmatic assessment of the actual capabilities and limits of neurofocal AISC, and an openness to what new knowledge and scientific/technological achievements may be produced, and how such outcomes can affect humanity, the human condition, society and the global environment. It is proposed that a progressive neurobioethics may be needed to establish both a meta-ethical framework upon which to structure ethical decisions, and a system and method of ethics that is inclusive, convergent and innovative, and in thus aligned with and meaningful to use of an AISC model in neuroscience.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported, in part by funding from NATO, grants from the Office of Naval Research and the Nour Foundation; the IGERT Program of the University of New Mexico, the William H. and Ruth Crane Schaefer Endowment, and ongoing subsidies provided by the Center for Neurotechnology Studies of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, USA. Thanks to Prof. A. Vaseashta PhD for continued collaboration in studies of integrative scientific convergence, and to Sherry Loveless for editorial assistance and graphic artistry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurotechnology Studies, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, Arlington, VA, USA

    J. Giordano

  2. Oxford Centre for Neuroethics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    J. Giordano

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  1. J. Giordano
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Correspondence to J. Giordano .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , NUARI, Institute for Advanced Sciences Converge, 13873 Park Center Rd, Suite 500, Herndon, 20171, Virginia, USA

    Ashok Vaseashta

  2. Norwich University Applied Research Inst, 158 Harmon Dr., Northfield, 05663, Vermont, USA

    Eric Braman

  3. Norwich University Applied Research Inst, 158 Harmon Dr., Northfield, 05663, Vermont, USA

    Philip Susmann

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Giordano, J. (2012). Integrative Convergence in Neuroscience: Trajectories, Problems, and the Need for a Progressive Neurobioethics. In: Vaseashta, A., Braman, E., Susmann, P. (eds) Technological Innovations in Sensing and Detection of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Threats and Ecological Terrorism. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2488-4_10

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