Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description
A Century of Science and Fiction: The Works of Asimov
Instructor(s): Javier Perez-Moreno, Physics
Our view of Science, the World we live in, and the Universe which we inhabit has changed dramatically during the last century. Similarly, our expectation of what is physically and technologically possible has shifted, and today our reality is full of devices and applications that were considered impossible in earlier times. These developments in science and technology are related to the social, political, cultural, and economic changes of the century. In this course we will use the works of Isaac Asimov to survey the evolution of science—and science fiction as a genre—through the last century, paying close attention to social and historical contexts. Through the words of Asimov we will examine topics that include time travel, scientific vs. fiction writing, technophobia, prejudice, the space race, sexism, robotics, and the future of humanity.
Course Offered: