Science in Fiction

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The Science in fiction Science fiction stories often have us ask …What if? QUESTION ?

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Science Fiction is.. fiction that involves science as part of the story. Science Fiction writers extrapolate current science, technology, and social issues to a future society or world. Looking at science fiction through the lens of enlightenment or romantic ideals… LOOK

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The ENLIGHTENMENT Period 18th Century The enlightened philosophers believed that progress would create a more equal society devoid of past constrictions such as…

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Enlightenment-themed science fiction might portray the future as a world of progress and human unity, with barbaric forces threatening the new utopia.

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The ability to think rationally for yourself equates with FREEDOM. Philosophers of this period believed that humans must abandon superstitions, obedience without thought, and servitude. The importance of REASON in Enlightenment Reason is all. REASON leads humanity to the truth. TRUTH is discovered through science and not faith. SCIENCE will be responsible for unraveling the solutions to problems humanity faced.

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Human history is progressing towards FREEDOM The importance of PROGRESS in Enlightenment Humanity is diverging from… IMMATURITY …towards MATURITY

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The ROMANTICISM Period 18th Century Believed enlightenment agenda pushed ideals of conformity and oppression. Science and Reason could never explain the world. Technology is at odds with humanity.

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Enlightenment Romanticism HOPE Despair Celebration Warning These conflicting attitudes are intertwined within science fiction work, depicting human hopes and fears on changing technology.. Optimism Pessimism Aligned with Nature Aligned with Technology Progress + Rationality Utopian Emotion Dystopian

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Question your perspective… QUESTION … Your perspective

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Suspicious Government? Does Science fiction play too much on our fear? Mad Scientists? Military Conspiracy? …

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Humans embrace tecnnology. Science in Fiction depicts possibilities. But at what cost?

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FUTURE Science Fiction ETHICS POSSIBILITIES… Science fiction reflects ethical dilemmas regarding evolving technology. Do we accept technological progress as the means of making a better world OR must we place limits on that progress? -Potts & Murphy

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FLESH MACHINE & Should there be a limit on the integration of human and computer technology? QUESTION ?

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Technology's pervasive and penetrating presence has resulted in a posthuman condition: a state in which there is a continuous collapsing of man and machine. The intercourse between… human beings and intelligent machines has challenged the traditional understanding of what it means to be "human." - Jennifer Attaway (2004)

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Real Cyborgs Technology used to enhance the mental or physical functioning of the organism- TODAY

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Fictional Cyborgs Fusion of Organic and Synthetic parts. By the 1960’s science fiction depicted the integration of human and computer. Science fiction QUESTIONED… How much of the HUMANBEING could you replace and still preserve its HUMANITY?

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Human beings are always on a quest to improve themselves... If humans were given the opportunity to use electronics to enhance the human mind and body, WOULD HUMANS SAY NO?

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Designer Babies Is there an ethical difference between genetic technologies that eradicate disease and the enhancement of human capacities? QUESTION …

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Prof Greg Stock (from UCLA School of Medicine): In the future we are going to be entirely transformed. Humans are now becoming objects of conscious design.

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Real Designer Babies

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Fictional Designer Babies Be the best YOU! What is on the menu? The film 1997 film Gattica shows us a society where designer babies are created. The movie highlighted… Genetic Discrimination & Loss of Human Diversity

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What happens when the design you planned for your baby does not turn out as expected? QUESTION …

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Science fiction is the platform for social commentary. Science fiction creates possible future situations and forces us to look into the mirror.

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Science fiction often shows us that without due vigilance and ethical awareness, technological advancements made will likely be used in the worse possible way. Enlightenment Ideals? Romanticism Ideals? Aliens? Armageddon? Cloning? Time Travel? Designer Babies? Cyborg? Do you subscribe to … A word of caution… I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it. - Jack Handey, "Deep Thoughts" “Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not.” – Isaac Asimov Take the future by the hand.

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Required Attributions CYBORG MAN http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyborg_from_flickr.jpg CYBORG WOMAN http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtonic/3747748367/ FREEDOM http://www.flickr.com/photos/unnamed/47093936/ SCREAMING HAND http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_mason/3993146/ Six Million Dollar Man http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/files/2010/04/six_million_dollar_man3.jpg Robocop http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RoboCop.jpg Pacemaker http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herzschrittmacher_auf_Roentgenbild.jpg BetaBattle http://www.flickr.com/photos/12609729@N07/3991744623/ Mad Scientist http://www.flickr.com/photos/dzingeek/4587871752/ White House http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcjohn/2960356/

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Required Attributions Millitary http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/2629616411/ Man in Mirror http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaptainkobold/3930503347/ REFERENCES: Attaway, Jennifer (2004). “Cyborg Bodies and Digitized Desires: Posthumanity and Philip K. Dick,” Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture [online], vol. 4, iss. 3. http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/attaway.htm Murphie, A., & Potts, J. (2003). Culture & Technology. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.