new book – ‘Science Fiction and Philosophy’
Written on June 7, 2009
Two of my favorite realms of reading meet in Science Fiction and Philosophy: From Time Travel to Superintelligence ed. by Susan Schneider (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009). A “look inside” at the table of contents shows a lineup of authors that includes Daniel Dennett, David Chalmers, Andy Clark, Derek Parfit, David Lewis, and Ray Kurzweil.
Product description from the publisher:
A timely volume that uses science fiction as a springboard to meaningful philosophical discussions, especially at points of contact between science fiction and new scientific developments.
* Raises questions and examines timely themes concerning the nature of the mind, time travel, artificial intelligence, neural enhancement, free will, the nature of persons, transhumanism, virtual reality, and neuroethics
* Draws on a broad range of books, films and television series, including The Matrix, Star Trek, Blade Runner, Frankenstein, Brave New World, The Time Machine, and Back to the Future
* Considers the classic philosophical puzzles that appeal to the general reader, while also exploring new topics of interest to the more seasoned academic
Filed in: fiction,new books,philosophy of mind.
