Silicone is made from silicon, one of the most naturally occurring solid materials on the Earth (about 25% of the earths crust is make up of silicone compounds such as quartz and silica. It is a stable, non-reactive, non-poisonous material that can be found as a viscuous liuqid/paste, as in caulking, it has great insulating properties, is very slippery when used in cooking applications (silpat mats, silicone oven mitts, silicone spatulas, cake turners, etc.), and is nearly as cool as George of the Jungle. but not as cool as Green Lantern. In any case, silicone is better for its designed purpose than is rubber, nylon, or any of the other plastics used in cooking.
Just a thought though, due to its inherent flexibility, I don't think I'd use silicone forks or spoons at the table. Imagine trying to stab a chunk of meat with something as flexible as a rubber band.
For more info on silicone, check this out - um, hold up. I just read a few of these articles, and they can be daunting. If you want to learn more about silicone, just type the word into a google search. Most of the info out there is geared toward someone with an understanding of chemistry. They are very informative, and will show you how the product has many different forms, and is used in everything from tubing to hair, and skin products, to cooking utensils, to anti-foaming agents, etc.
Suffice it to say that silicons are an amazing product, born of the elemental metal - silicon.
Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North