Science Fiction and Political Philosophy: From Bacon to Black Mirror

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Description

Sometimes called the literature of ideas, science fiction is a natural medium for normative political philosophy. Science fictions focus on technology, space and time travel, non-human lifeforms, and parallel universes cannot help but invoke the perennial questions of political life, including the nature of a just social order and who should rule; freedom, free will, and autonomy; and the advantages and disadvantages of progress. Rather than offering a reading of a work inspired by a particular thinker or tradition, each chapter presents a careful reading of a classic or contemporary work in the genre (a novel, short story, film, or television series) to illustrate and explore the themes and concepts of political philosophy.

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Science Fiction and Political Philosophyis highly recommended reading for those interesting in science fiction, philosophy, and just over all assessing the questions and problems we as a human race, could or will face at some point, as these are serious matters to which we as a species must consider.

Author Bio

Steven Michels is associate provost and professor of political science at Sacred Heart University. Timothy McCranor is doctoral student in the Political Science Department at Boston College.