Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies was formed to study and debate vital questions such as:

• Which technologies, especially new ones, are likely to have the greatest impact on human beings and human societies in the 21st century?
• What ethical issues do those technologies and their applications raise for humans, our civilization, and our world?
• How much can we extrapolate from the past and how much accelerating change should we anticipate?
• What sort of policy positions can be recommended to promote the best possible outcomes for individuals and societies?

IEET's Mission

The IEET's mission is to be a center for voices arguing for a responsible, constructive, ethical approach to the most powerful emerging technologies. We believe that technological progress can be a catalyst for positive human development so long as we ensure that technologies are safe and equitably distributed. We call this a "technoprogressive" orientation.

We aim to showcase technoprogressive ideas about how technological progress can increase freedom, happiness, and human flourishing in democratic societies. Focusing on emerging technologies that have the potential to positively transform social conditions and the quality of human lives, especially "human enhancement technologies" - the IEET seeks to cultivate academic, professional, and popular understanding of their implications, both positive and negative, and to encourage responsible public policies for their safe and equitable use.

IEET's Background and History

The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies is a nonprofit think tank founded in 2004 by philosopher Nick Bostrom and bioethicist James J. Hughes. The IEET's Board of Directors includes members from Italy, Sweden, Canada, and the United States. By promoting and publicizing the work of international thinkers who examine the social implications of scientific and technological progress, we seek to contribute to the understanding of the impact of emerging technologies on individuals and societies, locally and globally. We also aim to shape public policies that distribute the benefits and reduce the risks of technological advancement.

Learn More

• The Debate Over Human Enhancement
• Defending Rights While Taking Risks Seriously
• A Focus on Individuals and Societies

IEET Introductory Literature

• One-page Overview of the IEET [PDF]
• IEET Prospectus [PDF]