Edited by author 12-04-2002 12:11 PM
Rhetoric 174
Final Paper

My research is on the Grey Goo Scenario. The grey goo scenario is an apocalyptic vision that self-replicating nanobots will proliferate and take over earth, eventually making humanity obsolete. Bill Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystem wrote an article titled, "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us." Using this article as a center piece, I examine the rhetoric and responses of this article to assess the validity and the seriousness of this futuristic/apocalyptic scenario.

I will argue that nanotechnology is still in its primitive stage of R&D and Joy's assessment of the future is still in the realm of science-ficiton. The advancement of nanotechnology is still centuries away, although many are proponent of Moore's Law and expontential growth of technology. Joy makes a valid argument that nanotech could be a threat, but invalid in making superficial claims that have an unforseeable technological future. The danger of nanotech is hinted and could be a reality, but not a threat as of now.