Faculty Profile: Patrick Lin

Education and Appointments

• Ethics Fellow, US Naval Academy
• Post-Doctoral Associate, Dartmouth College
• Ph.D., M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Professional Interests

• Applied and theoretical ethics
• Social and political philosophy
• Other areas, especially as they relate to science and technology

Selected Publications

What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter?: From Science to Ethics, co-authored with Fritz Allhoff and Daniel Moore (Wiley-Blackwell, in press).

Ethics of Human Enhancement: 25 Questions & Answers, co-authored with Fritz Allhoff, James Moor, and John Weckert, funded by US National Science Foundation (August 2009).

Autonomous Military Robotics: Risk, Ethics, and Design, co-authored with Keith Abney and George Bekey, funded by US Department of Defense/Office of Naval Research (December 2008)

“Untangling the Debate: The Ethics of Human Enhancement”, NanoEthics: Ethics for Technologies that Converge at the Nanoscale, December 2008, no. 3: 251-264

Nanotechnology & Society: Current and Emerging Ethical Issues, edited by Patrick Lin and Fritz Allhoff (Springer, April 2008).

Nanoethics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Nanotechnology, edited by Patrick Lin, Fritz Allhoff, James Moor and John Weckert (Wiley, August 2007)

“Nanotechnology Bound: Evaluating the Case for More Regulation”, NanoEthics: Ethics for Technologies that Converge at the Nanoscale, August 2007, no. 2: 105-122

“Space Ethics: Look Before Taking Another Leap for Mankind”, Astropolitics, Winter 2006, vol. 4, no. 3: 281-294

“What's So Special About Nanotechnology and Nanoethics?”, International Journal of Applied Philosophy, Fall 2006, vol. 20, no. 2: 179-190 (co-written with Fritz Allhoff)

“Nanotech in Global Security & Economics: Shifting Political and Economic Winds, or a Firestorm of Change?” (2006), Genetic Engineering News, vol. 26, issue 9: 6 (co-written with Brian Wang).

Selected Presentations

“Against Gene Patenting: Debunking the Argument Based on Incentives”, Leadership San Luis Obispo seminar series, 14 August 2009.

“War Robots: What are the Risks and Ethical Issues?”, Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) 2009 conference, 7 March 2009.

“Nanotechnology and the Environment”, Univ. of Delaware/Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Environmental Nanoparticles: Science, Ethics, and Policy conference, 11 Nov 2008.

“Superman vs. Frankenstein's Monster: The Debate on Human Enhancement Technologies”, International Congress of Nanotechnology, San Francisco, 6 Nov 2007.

“The Rise of Nanoethics: Emerging Issues in Nanotechnology and Society”, Yale University, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, 10 Oct 2007.

“Introduction to Nanoethics”, University of California at Davis, Responsible Conduct of Research program, 4 May 2007.

“Nanotechnology and Energy: How It Can Help and the Challenges It Faces”, The San Francisco Exploratorium's nanotechnology podcast series “Small Talk”, 16 April 2007.

“Understanding the Debate: A Critical Look at Reasons For and Against More Regulation in Nanotechnology”, California Environmental Protection Agency's (Cal/EPA) nanotechnology symposium, 8 March 2007.

“Finding Reasons: A Critical Look at Recent Pro-Enhancement Arguments”, Human Enhancement Technologies and Human Rights, Stanford University, 27 May 2006.

“Space Ethics: Look Before Taking Another Leap for Mankind”, International Space Development Conference, Los Angeles, 5 May 2006.

Service

• Associate Editor, Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology, Berkeley Electronic Press
• Associate Editor, Nanotechnology Law & Business, Berkeley Electronic Press
• Editorial Board Member, NanoEthics: Ethics for Technologies that Converge at the Nanoscale, Springer
• Various Cal Poly university, college, and department committees

Awards

• Cal Poly/College of Liberal Arts, Outstanding Scholarship Award, 2009

Courses

• PHIL 231: Philosophical Classics - Social & Political Philosophy
• PHIL 334: Philosophy of Law
• PHIL 439: Technology Ethics: Selected Problems in Ethics and Political Philosophy