THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE FICTION IN CLAIRE NORTH'S NOVEL "THE FIRST FIFTEEN LIVES OF HARRY AUGUST"
Journal Title: Вісник Житомирського державного університету імені Івана Франка - Year 2018, Vol 88, Issue 2
Abstract
As developed in this paper, science fiction shows us the distorted vision of the present with its anxieties about (mis)use of science although it deals mostly with the future and alternative realities. Thus SF stories both praise scientific progress and repulse its terrible applications caused by irresponsible abuse of technology. This paper focuses on how contemporary SF deals with philosophical issues of life, death, technology, and the role of science in society. It reviews Claire North's novel "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" in which SF conventions parallel and intensify the thriller narrative. The philosophies of Nietzsche and Heidegger have been employed to discuss the theory of eternal return and related topics of nihilism, devaluation of values, and purpose of existence. It is stated that the novel reveals how cognition of totality may lead to death and illustrates that human beings are incapable of achieving omniscience. Personal time is measured by memory and is always linear; therefore it can guarantee meaningful existence only when its arrow points towards growth and maturity. It is shown that ethical issues raised in the novel are based on the distinction between theoretical science signifying truth and its practical application meaning power. Knowledge by itself lies beyond morality; however, means used in its pursuit entail responsibility to others.
Authors and Affiliations
M. O. Fedosova
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP551683
- DOI -
- Views 119
- Downloads 0
Modification of the Genre Matrix in N. Dolyak’s Ironic Detective ''Luxury Life in Wuppertal''.
Despite an almost two-hundred-year history of detective fiction and a great readers’ demand, this kind of literature is one of the least learnt spheres of the world study of literature. The problem of the modification of...
Experimental Test of a Model of Prospective Teachers Training to Interact with Parents and Children in Conflict Situation.
In the article the test results of a model effectiveness of the prospective teachers training interaction with parents in a conflict situation are viewed. The sequence, tasks, essence, methods and results of theoretical...
The Development of Creative Thinking of the Future Teacher of Computer Science by Means of Information and Communication Technologies
A teacher should have the ability of creative thinking and innovation activity, autonomy and non-standard decisions, intellectual competence. The quality of general secondary education system depends on the teacher. The...
Prophetic and Visionary Utopia by Ivan Franco (the Poem "Moses").
In modern literary is very important to make a deconstruction approach (in the broadest sense) in the history of literature, focus our research attention on overcoming colonialism forms and models of integration (or rein...
GLOBALIZATION AS RELIGARE
It is shown in the article, that pre-modern, modern and postmodern algorithms of globalization had and have a huge impact on understanding of human universality, its palce understanding in being as union with the Absolut...