Conceptualizing dual use: A multidimensional approach

The problem of dual use is characterized by a wide range of activities or types of research and technology utilization. In this article, I explore the phenomenon of dual use in several steps to make it accessible for ethical inquiries: first, I examine the phenomenon in more detail; is it a genuine...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martin Hähnel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:Research Ethics Review
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161241261466
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Summary:The problem of dual use is characterized by a wide range of activities or types of research and technology utilization. In this article, I explore the phenomenon of dual use in several steps to make it accessible for ethical inquiries: first, I examine the phenomenon in more detail; is it a genuine property of technologies and methods, a fundamental problem for research ethics, or a specific precondition for trade-off situations? Second, I show that various factors contribute to a certain good becoming a real dual use good. Third, I propose to develop a three-dimensional classification and evaluation system for dual use risks.
ISSN:1747-0161
2047-6094