Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy

Why science fiction is one of the primary ways contemporary society engages with philosophical issues; an overview of the kinds of sci-fi media one will explore; addressing the interpretation of art with a look at the film "Inception".

Looking at different ideas concerning truth, knowledge and reality through the film "The Matrix", from Plato's definition of knowledge to the theories of Jean Baudrillard; grasping the important distinctions between epistemology and metaphysics.

The two sequels that follow "The Matrix" provide fertile ground for a philosophical investigation surrounding the existence of free will; comparing multiple theories; seeing whether these oft-derided films can offer any answers.

Exploring individual fate through the film "The Adjustment Bureau"; studying universal fate in "Star Wars"; how conspiracy theories and supernatural claims invoke "fate" to explain real-world happenings; how philosophers handle these "explanations".

Carl Sagan believes science and religion can be compatible; whether the film "Contact" proves his point; how humans use personal experience to justify belief; whether or not such experiences can justify belief in the face of scientific evidence.

How the film "Arrival" can help one examine the three questions that arise when discussing the possibility of alien life; how likely a visitation would be; the effect it would have on society; whether humans would be able to communicate with aliens.

A look at what metaphysics has to say about the possibility of time travel, focusing primarily on the film "Interstellar"; other influential time travel stories like "Back to the Future" and "Quantum Leap"; the various theories they represent.

A look at a fan-favorite episode of "Doctor Who" to explore the nature of paradoxes in time travel; how the "Futurama" episode "Roswell That Ends Well" shows that science fiction does not always have to take itself seriously to tell a great story.

The likelihood of alternate worlds; exploring the multiverse theory through the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Parallels"; how science could support the idea of multiple worlds; grappling with the untestable nature of such a theory.

The nature of personal identity is tied to numerous philosophical concerns; exploring the theories of great thinkers and their intellectual descendants through films like "Dark City" and "Moon" and television shows like "Dollhouse".

Sentient machines are a staple of science fiction; focusing on a few key stories; the history of intelligent machines in films and TV; a glimpse into a possible future; how people conceive of the mind; the implications of artificial intelligence.

Science fiction is fascinated by the possibilities of artificial intelligence; human predictions of the future are often inaccurate; exploring arguments for and against the creation of AI through the film "Transcendence" and other iconic stories.

What some philosophers say about the likelihood that people are living in a simulated world; examining the film "The Thirteenth Floor"; how creating a convincing simulated world could alter one's conception of reality.

The pervasive influence of social media makes life feel performative; it demonstrates an old dilemma heightened by new technology; how "Black Mirror" and "The Orville" offer episodes that examine extreme cases of objectification and mob mentality.

Many entries in the "Star Wars" franchise present complicated gray areas when it comes to good versus evil; how the 21st-century films in the series create a more complicated view of morality; what Nietzsche has to say about space politics.

How the two series "Blake's 7" and "Firefly" take similar approaches to the experience of political oppression and individual defiance; the implications of dissent within society; the perpetual dilemma of balancing freedom and social order.

Examining how societies view war; the ways people try to justify it; comparing two different ways of confronting violence; looking at the middle ground via just war theory; the difficulties of preserving life while sometimes having to cause harm.

What science fiction can say about the dangers of colonialism and moral relativism; exploring episodes from different iterations of "Star Trek"; looking at the Prime Directive; the ethical ramifications of imposing one society's values on another.

Capitalism has its share of pitfalls and ethical quandaries; looking at the dystopian visions of "Metropolis", "Elysium" and "The Hunger Games"; diving into the issue of balance; why an unregulated free market is a recipe for inequality.

How and why people get scientific information from experts; why climate change is a philosophical issue; looking at the film "Snowpiercer" to see how a lukewarm approach to pressing issues can create narratives of false security.

The question of when it is acceptable to end one's own life; what the 1970s film "Soylent Green" offers as a solution to dwindling space and resources due to overpopulation; other ways societies tackle the issues of euthanasia and population control.

Diving into the ethical questions of "designer babies", genetic manipulation and human evolution at the heart of the movie "Gattaca"; exploring the philosophical and scientific ins and outs of cloning via the Canadian TV show "Orphan Black".

The television show "The Handmaid's Tale" offers a grim vision of a misogynist totalitarian state; the meanings and different stages of feminism in the 20th century; what the disenfranchisement of women says about the uses and abuses of power.

Analyzing "2001: A Space Odyssey"; the imagery and ideas of Kubrick's vision; determining whether, as some suggest, it reflects the concept of Friedrich Nietzsche's Ubermensch; a brief glimpse of the science fiction worlds waiting to be explored.