Image for Robots, Aliens, and Humans: Moral Questions in Science Fiction

Future developments in science and technology will pose unique moral challenges for humanity. Indeed, in fields like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, it looks as if that is already happening. Serious science fiction can help us anticipate some of these oncoming moral issues, providing thought experiments about how to meet the challenges of the future. In this course, we will encounter such challenges, and we will ask whether we need moral innovation or a firmer grasp on perennial values.