Barad distinguishes her account from representationalism via the brittlestar-a creature whose skeletal system is also a visual system and which has inspired nanoengineered microlenses. Barad argues for the entanglement of knowing, being and values in what she terms her ethico-onto-epistem-ology of ‘agential realism’. She concludes that “ome biotech companies have already enlisted biomimesis in their attempts to hoist themselves above the murky pool of ethical, legal, and social concerns, posing as benign inventors, if not downright all-natural Mother Nature-loving sustainability advocates” (365). In Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning, Karen Barad worries that appeal to ‘natural’ design will elide ethical issues. ‘Nature’ has been identified as the ultimate nanotechnologist and design elements from animal bodies inspire new materials, including genetic manipulations to allow spider silk to be produced from goats’ milk, beetle cuticle wax that can provide clean water, and bandages inspired by the clinging properties of gecko toes.
Some have projected that it will have broad economic and social benefits including improved energy efficiency, computing power, medical treatments, and removal of environmental pollutants. Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on the molecular and atomic scales.
This presentation is part of the Metaphor and Vision track.