Philosophy and Theology of Science Fiction

This course aims at understanding of the philosophical theological topics present in popular culture. Science Fiction novels and movies represent one of the biggest current in modern culture. Directors and authors very often use and refer to philosophical and theological issues and consider them in very specific Science Fiction form. The questions, which were asked at the philosophical and theological inquiries are rendered to the modern language and are often hidden in the narration. This philosophical or theological background shows that some issues are always interesting for every man regardless of his education and cultural background. This course will consider Science Fiction version of questions like:

1.What is science fiction and why it has any relation to philosophy?

2. History and development of Science Fiction genre.

3. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - philosophical aspects of the first science fiction novel.

4. The Time Machine and the sociocriticism (H.G. Wells and socialism).

5. Utopia and dystopia - from Plato’s Republic to Orwell’s 1984.

6. Matrix and the problem of cognition - is the world real?

7. Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions - do we have a free will and determinism, Evil and Providence

8. The Adjustment Bureau - fate and predestination

9. Hall 9000, I robot - Can computers think like a human being? The problems of Artificial Intelligence.

10. Prepersons, Total recall, Blade runner. Phillip K. Dick what makes you human being.

11. Dark City - the problems of personal identity.

12. Star Wars and 2001 Space Odyssey superhuman beyond good and evil - Nietzshe and SF

13. Contact - Faith and Reason - is religion only a personal experience?

14. A Canticle for Leibowitz - Catholic Church and Society?

15. Babel-17 and Arrival SF and the philosophy of language.

16. Starship Troopers - militarism, pacifism and just war

17. “The Prime Directive” - Star Trek and postcolonialism

- Robert E. Scholes, Eric S. Rabkin, Science Fiction, History, Science, Vision, Oxford University Press, 1977.

- Science fiction and philosophy. From time travel to superintelligence, ed. S. Schneider, Blackwell Publishing 2009.

- Paul Alkon, Science Fiction Before 1900, New York: Routledge, 2001.

- John Huntington, The Logic of Fantasy: H. G. Wells and Science Fiction, New York 1982.

- Paul J. Nahin, Holy Sci-Fi! Where Science Fiction and Religion Intersect, New York 2014.

- Science Fiction, Ethics and the Human Condition, ed. Christian Baron, Peter Nicolai Halvorsen Christine Cornea, Springer 2017.

- S. Hrotic, Religion in Science Fiction. The Evolution of an Idea and the Extinction of a Genre, Bloomsbury 2014.

KNOWLEDGE: Student knows the most famous Science Fiction novels and films. Student knows the definition of Science Fiction genre and knows the criteria which must be fulfilled for the novel or film to be acknowledged as Science Fiction. He can show how they are related to certain topic of philosophy of language, philosophical anthropology and philosophy of society, conceptions of God and Salvation of man

ABILITIES: Student can refer critically impact of Science Fiction to modern culture. He can show the importance of discussion of vital topics of the meaning of human life the relation of individual to society and the ambivalence of science and technology. Student understands the limits of human nature and constant struggle of man to achieve freedom from natural conditions and oppression of society.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES: Student can debate on philosophical and theological aspects of ordinary act of life. He can argue on importance of asking the right questions and seeking for an answer. He can interpret the importance of mass culture in human life.

ECTS
preparation to lectures, learning necessary terms: 30 participation in lecture: 30
preparation of presentation for exam: 60
Sum of hours: 120
Number of ECTS: [120:25 = 4]

Short essay on paper about the philosophical aspect found by student in any Science Fiction book or movie. (5-10 pages)

Topic can be related to the course contents or invented by student himself.

Choose the SF film, TV series or novel

Describe the problems and dilemmas present in the plot or characters.

Recount how they related to the philosophy and theology, with your own evaluation whether you agree or disagree with the theses presented by the author.