Science Fiction and Political Philosophy

From Bacon to Black Mirror

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Edited by Timothy McCranor and Steven Michels

Type: Studies
Subject: Genre > Science Fiction
Keywords: science fiction, politics, philosophy
Publishing date: 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books
Collection: Politics, Literature, & Film
1st publishing: 2020
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 249 pages
6 x 8 ¾ inches (15.5 x 22 cm)

ISBN

978-1-4985-8645-0

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Book Presentation:
Sometimes called the “literature of ideas,” science fiction is a natural medium for normative political philosophy. Science fiction’s 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.

About the authors:
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.

Press Reviews:
"Given that nothing is poised to help us explore the pressing political and philosophical issues of our day like science fiction, Science Fiction and Political Philosophy is a much-needed book. It covers nearly everything you want it to cover—dating back to the origins of science fiction (like Bacon’s New Atlantis and Shelly’s Frankenstein) to modern fan favorites of film and television (like Star Trek TNG and Black Mirror)—and treats science fiction with the philosophical respect it deserves. I hope and believe it will inspire similar works." -- David Kyle Johnson, King’s College, author of Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy

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.
― VoegelinView

See the publisher website: Lexington Books

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