Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as
Philosophy
David Kyle Johnson, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
Professor, King's College
Course No. 4112
Course Overview
The science fiction genre has become increasingly influential in mainstream popular culture, evolving into one
of the most engaging storytelling tools we use to think about technology and consider the shape of the future.
Along the way, it has also become one of the major lenses we use to explore important philosophical questions.
The origins of science fiction are most often thought to trace to Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, a story born
from a night of spooky tale-telling by the fireside that explores scientific, moral, and ethical questions that were
of great concern in the 19th century—and that continue to resonate today. And, although novels and short
stories built the foundations of science fiction, film and television have emerged as equally powerful,
experimental, and enjoyable ways to experience the genre. Even as far back as the silent era, films like Fritz
Lang’s Metropolis have used science fiction to tell stories that explore many facets of human experience.
In Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy David Kyle Johnson of King’s College
takes you on a 24-lecture exploration of the final frontiers of philosophy across several decades of science
fiction in film and television. From big-budget blockbusters to television series featuring aliens in rubber
masks, Professor Johnson finds food for philosophical thought in a wide range of stories. By looking at serious
questions through astonishing tales and astounding technologies, you will see how science fiction allows us to
consider immense, vital—and sometimes controversial—ideas with a rare combination of engagement and
critical distance.
The Future Is Now
Science fiction is often concerned with the future, being used not only as a tool of prediction—humans are
notoriously bad at accurately predicting the future—but also as one of extrapolation and interrogation. Rather
than simply asking what the future will look like, the futuristic visions of sci-fi TV, like Star Trek, Firefly, and
even the animated comedy Futurama, offer compelling statements about humanity’s hopes, dreams, and fears.
We can, therefore, use fictionalized futures to better understand today’s world.
Setting a story in the future—or in an alternate reality, or on a faraway planet—also allows sci-fi creators to
open up the realm of possibility beyond what our current world offers, while also looking at very real scientific
possibilities. As you look at sci-fi films like Arrival and Interstellar, Professor Johnson highlights the kinds of
issues worth considering if contact with extraterrestrial life or time travel became part of our real-life
experience. And even if these experiences remain in the realm of fiction, considering them still provides insight
into important philosophical questions. Indeed, throughout the lectures of Sci-Phi, you will ponder many
questions that have concerned philosophers for centuries, including:
• Do humans truly have free will?
• Could machines one day be conscious? Or be sentient?
• Could we actually be living in a simulated world?
• How will humanity confront a future of diminished resources and advancing technology?
• Are science and religion compatible?
• When, if ever, is war justified?
• How do we know what information to trust and what to dismiss?
Exploring Reality through Fiction
Staples of science fiction like time travel, alternate universes, and extraterrestrial life are endlessly fascinating
ideas to explore. Yet, despite the insights they can give us, they may not seem very relevant to everyday life.
Even our conception of reality—what is real and what isn’t—can have little bearing on the more mundane
aspects of living from day to day. But science fiction, for all its futurism and outlandish flourishes, is not
limited to these theoretical concepts; it is also a window into crucial discussions about the here and now,
questions concerning ethics, power, religion, tolerance, social justice, politics, and the many practical
dimensions of living in a world that is constantly changing and forever presenting humans with fresh new
dilemmas to solve. And by removing us from reality, sci-fi can also remove our biases and make us see such
issues anew.
Indeed, as Professor Johnson makes clear, stories of simulated worlds and artificial intelligence can seem far-
fetched, but they actually offer valuable insights into social and ethical issues that may be more immediate and
relevant than they first appear. By looking at them through fiction, we can take a step back and get a clearer
picture of the larger implications. For instance, by looking at characters like Commander Data in Star Trek: The
Next Generation or the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica, we are forced to wonder: If we create artificial
intelligence that achieves true sentience, how will we treat these man-made beings? Will we repeat the sins of
the past by enslaving them or will we embrace them as our equals? If we are ever able to re-create a convincing
version of the world via computers, as films like The Matrix and The Thirteenth Floor suggest, do the lives
lived in those simulations mean less than those in the “real” world? The answers to these questions—and many
others—speak volumes about human values and, given our ever-evolving technology, may require answers
sooner rather than later.
You may be surprised to see how often a science fiction story can “trick” you into thinking about questions and
concepts you may have never considered. Shows like The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror overtly present
questions and issues for audiences to ponder. However, while other films and television shows may seem to
focus more on the adventure and entertainment value of science fiction, they still often have deep philosophical
dimensions. Consider the long-running British TV series Doctor Who. A beloved icon of science fiction, the
show has always been framed as simply the exciting weekly adventures of a time-traveling alien; yet,
throughout its decades on television, it has explored issues of autonomy, sentience, pacifism, colonialism,
racism, grief, morality, and much more.
A Unique View of Philosophy
While each lecture of Sci-Phi focuses on a few key films or television episodes, you will also explore dozens of
other movies and TV episodes along the way. Likewise, each philosophical concept you explore opens the door
to further discovery. Throughout the lectures, you will be introduced to the ideas of great thinkers like
Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, Nietzsche, Sartre, Turing, Baudrillard, and many others; and through these
ideas, you will better understand the different ways philosophy examines the big questions, from metaphysics
and epistemology to existentialism and ethics.
Fans of the genre will find their experience of sci-fi stories enriched by layers of philosophical inquiry that
reveal each story to be much more than just entertainment. Similarly, those who are looking for a thrilling and
accessible introduction to philosophy will be equally rewarded by Professor Johnson’s breadth of knowledge, as
well as his deep and abiding love for both science fiction storytelling and philosophical exploration. As you
engage with philosophy by way of sci-fi stories for screens both large and small, it is important to keep in mind
that Professor Johnson will not shy away from revealing key plot points in many of the stories he explores
throughout the lectures; so, although it is not required, watching the films and TV episodes at the heart of each
lecture is recommended. Presented as a one-on-one conversation and enlivened by fun visual references to
many of the stories you will encounter, Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy is a philosophy course unlike
any other.
Whether telling stories of far-flung futures or investigating the here and now, science fiction is an invaluable
source of intellectual and imaginative exploration. From the genre-defining classics like Star Wars, Doctor
Who, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Twilight Zone to a new wave of speculative tales like Transcendence,
Snowpiercer, Westworld, and The Hunger Games, sci-fi stories offer a uniquely engaging and incisive way to
ask serious questions about the world we live in, even when those stories are set in a galaxy far, far away.
Philosophy is the search for truth. Sometimes that truth is best revealed through fiction.
24 Lectures - Average 34 minutes each
1. Inception and the Interpretation of Art
Begin your journey with a look at why science fiction is one of the primary ways contemporary society
engages with philosophical issues. Get an overview of the kinds of sci-fi media you will explore throughout
the course and explore how you will address the interpretation of art with a look at the film Inception.
2. The Matrix and the Value of Knowledge
Which will you choose, the red pill or the blue? Look at different ideas concerning truth, knowledge, and
reality through the film The Matrix, from Plato's definition of knowledge to the theories of Jean Baudrillard.
Also, grasp the important distinctions between epistemology and metaphysics.
3. The Matrix Sequels and Human Free Will
Though panned by critics and science fiction fans alike, upon first release, the two sequels that followed
The Matrix—Reloaded and Revolutions, respectively—provide surprisingly fertile ground for philosophical
investigation surrounding the existence of free will. Compare multiple theories and see whether these oft-
derided films can offer any answers.
4. The Adjustment Bureau, the Force, and Fate
Explore the concept of individual fate through the film The Adjustment Bureau and the larger concept of
universal fate in Star Wars. Along the way, take a look at the ways conspiracy theories and supernatural
claims invoke “fate” to explain real-world happenings and how philosophers handle these “explanations.”
5. Contact: Science versus Religion
Science communicator Carl Sagan believed science and religion could be compatible. But does Contact, the
film based on his novel, prove his point or undermine it? Probe the many ways humans use personal
experience to justify belief and whether or not such experiences can justify belief in the face of contrary
scientific evidence.
6. Arrival: Aliens and Radical Translation
See how the 2016 film Arrival can help you examine the three questions that arise when discussing the
possibility of alien life in the universe: How likely would a visitation be? What effect on society would it
have? And, particularly pertinent to the film, would we be able to communicate with them once they're
here?
7. Interstellar: Is Time Travel Possible?
This lecture will take a look at what metaphysics has to say about the possibility of time travel, focusing
primarily on the film Interstellar. Along the way, you will also look at other influential time travel stories
and the various theories they represent, like Back to the Future, Quantum Leap, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and
Planet of the Apes.
8. Doctor Who and Time Travel Paradoxes
Open with a look at a fan-favorite episode of Doctor Who and explore the nature of paradoxes in time
travel. You will also see that science fiction doesn’t always have to take itself seriously to tell a great story
—or to explore fascinating philosophical questions—when you turn your attention to the Futurama episode
“Roswell That Ends Well.”
9. Star Trek: TNG and Alternate Worlds
What can quantum mechanics tell us about the likelihood of alternate worlds? Explore the multiverse theory
with Lieutenant Worf in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Parallels” and see how science could
support the idea of multiple worlds, while also grappling with the seeming untestable nature of such a
theory.
10. Dark City, Dollhouse, and Personal Identity
The nature of personal identity is tied to numerous philosophical concerns: memory, consciousness, even
the possibility of an afterlife. With films like Dark City and Moon and TV shows like Dollhouse, Professor
Johnson guides you through the theories of great thinkers like Descartes, Locke, Leibniz, and their
intellectual descendants.
11. Westworld and A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Sentient machines have been a staple of sci-fi for decades. Although here you will focus on a few key
stories, you will also take a look at the long history of intelligent machines in film and TV—as well as get a
glimpse into our very possible future—examining the ways we conceive of the mind and the implications of
artificial intelligence. Machines can calculate, but could they one day be sentient?
12. Transcendence and the Dangers of AI
Science fiction has always been fascinated by the possibilities of artificial intelligence, with many
storytellers focusing on the dangers of sentient machines. But human predictions of the future are often
inaccurate, so here you will explore arguments both for and against the creation of AI through the film
Transcendence, as well as through other iconic stories.
13. The Thirteenth Floor: Are We Simulated?
What is the likelihood that we are living in a simulated world right now? Some philosophers, using laws of
subjective probability, would say it may actually be much higher than you might think. Examine the film
The Thirteenth Floor and understand how creating a convincing simulated world could alter our conception
of reality itself.
14. The Orville, Orwell, and the “Black Mirror”
The pervasive influence of social media makes life feel more performative than ever, yet it really just
demonstrates an old dilemma heightened by new technology. Here, see how the anthology show Black
Mirror and the Star Trek-influenced series The Orville offer episodes that examine extreme cases of
objectification and mob mentality. Also, look back on a pre-internet example in George Orwell's much-
adapted Nineteen Eighty-Four.
15. Star Wars: Good versus Evil
The original Star Wars trilogy is not morally ambiguous, but many other entries in the franchise present
complicated gray areas when it comes to good versus evil. Professor Johnson demonstrates how the 21st-
century films in the series, especially Rogue One, create a more complicated view of morality—and what
Nietzsche can tell us about space politics.
16. Firefly, Blake's 7, and Political Rebellion
Many science fiction stories revolve around scrappy, sympathetic rebels and the overthrow of oppressive
government powers. Here, look at how two series—Blake’s 7 and Firefly—take similar approaches to the
experience of political oppression and individual defiance. Consider the implications of dissent within
society and contemplate the perpetual dilemma of balancing freedom and social order.
17. Starship Troopers, Doctor Who, and Just War
From the overt (though satirical) militarism of Starship Troopers to the pacifism of the Doctor, examine
how societies view war and the ways we are (or are not) able to justify it. As you compare and contrast two
very different ways of confronting violence, you will also look at the middle ground via Just War Theory
and ponder the difficulties of preserving life while sometimes having to cause harm.
18. The Prime Directive and Postcolonialism
What can science fiction tell us about the dangers of colonialism and moral relativism? Take a look at the
Prime Directive—the rules that are supposed to prevent interference in other cultures—and the ethical
ramifications of imposing one society’s values on another, as you plunge into several episodes from
different iterations of Star Trek, including the classic series of the 1960s, The Next Generation, and
Enterprise.
19. Capitalism in Metropolis, Elysium, and Panem
Capitalism is an economic philosophy as much as it is a practical system and, while it has many benefits,
the capitalist system also has its share of pitfalls and ethical quandaries. Looking at the dystopian visions of
the sci-fi films Metropolis, Elysium, and The Hunger Games, you will dive into the issue of balance and
understand why an unregulated free market is a recipe for inequality.
20. Snowpiercer and Climate Change
Open this lecture with a look at how and why we get scientific information from experts (or don't) and why
what we should conclude about climate change is as much of a philosophical issue as it is a scientific one.
Then, through the film Snowpiercer, take a look at how a lukewarm approach to pressing issues can create
narratives of false security and cast doubt on real dangers that will have consequences for the fate of
humanity.
21. Soylent Green: Overpopulation and Euthanasia
When is it acceptable to end your own life? With the rising threat of overpopulation on Earth in the future,
see what the 1970s film Soylent Green offers as a solution to dwindling space and resources. Also, consider
other ways societies, in both science fiction and the real world, tackle the moral issues of euthanasia (both
self-chosen and coerced) and population control.
22. Gattaca and the Ethics of Reproduction
Dive into the ethical questions of “designer babies,” genetic manipulation, and human evolution at the heart
of the movie Gattaca, a film which NASA once considered one of the most plausible sci-fi films ever made.
Then, turn your attention to a similar issue as you explore the philosophical and scientific ins and outs of
cloning, via the Canadian TV show Orphan Black.
23. The Handmaid's Tale: Feminism and Religion
The television adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale offers a grim vision of a future
in which religious fanaticism reshapes the United States into a misogynist totalitarian state. Professor
Johnson provides a brief overview of the meaning(s) and different stages of feminism in the 20th century
and examines what the disenfranchisement of women says about the uses and abuses of power.
24. Kubrick’s 2001 and Nietzsche’s Übermensch
Analyze one of the most famous—and possibly weirdest—sci-fi films of all time: 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Consider the imagery and ideas of Kubrick’s vision and determine whether, as some suggest, it reflects the
concept of Friedrich Nietzsche’s Übermensch. Close with a brief glimpse of the science fiction worlds still
waiting for you to explore them.
Professor David Kyle Johnson, Ph.D.,
University of Oklahoma
We can always take comfort in the fact that we can find and do embrace
answers to metaphysical questions.
King's College
Dr. David Kyle Johnson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at King’s College in
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate in
philosophy from the University of Oklahoma.
At Oklahoma, he won the coveted Kenneth Merrill Graduate Teaching Award. In
2011, the American Philosophical Association’s committee on public philosophy
gave him an award for his ability to make philosophy accessible to the general public.
Professor Johnson regularly teaches classes on metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, and
logic, as well as courses on critical thinking and scientific reasoning. He has published papers on human
freedom, the problem of natural evil, the multiverse, the existence of souls, and many related topics in such
journals as Religious Studies, Sophia, Philo, Philosophy and Literature, and Think. He also maintains two blogs
for Psychology Today.
Professor Johnson also publishes prolifically on the intersection of pop culture and philosophy. One of his
books, Inception and Philosophy: Because It’s Never Just a Dream, inspired an authors@Google talk with more
than half-a-million YouTube views. He also has written numerous articles that explore the relationship between
philosophical questions and such pop cultural phenomena as The Hobbit, Doctor Who, Batman, South Park,
Johnny Cash, Quentin Tarantino, and Christmas.
