PHIL121
SCIENCE FICTION & PHILOSOPHY
- Department
- Philosophy
- Terms offered
- 4
- Data refreshed
- Jun 27, 2026
Description
This course takes advantage of the significant convergence of topics and issues entertained both by science fiction literature and by philosophical debate. Course topics are wide ranging and may include the possibility and ethics of artificial intelligence, time travel and the question of free will and determinism, political liberalism and Rawls' veil of ignorance, the persistence of persons over time, gender and identity, post-apocalyptic scenarios (including pandemics) and the social compact, the possibility of alien intelligence and the nature of persons, including their moral status. Most broadly, however, both science fiction and philosophy affords us an opportunity to consider what it is to be a human being. Students will read and discuss works in science fiction, as well as works by philosophers addressing similar topics. No previous experience with either philosophy or the literature of speculative fiction is necessary.
Syllabi
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Offerings and forecast 2022–2026
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer | Intersession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2030 Fall: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 fall terms since 2018. | 2030 Spring: 35% chance, low confidence. Offered in 4 of 5 spring terms since 2022. Department course count falling about 6% per year. Department faculty is about 14% below its recent average. | 2030 Summer: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 summer terms since 2018. | 2030 Intersession: 8% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 6 intersession terms since 2020. |
| 2029 | 2029 Fall: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 fall terms since 2017. | 2029 Spring: 47% chance, low confidence. Offered in 4 of 5 spring terms since 2022. Section count rising about 41% per year over 2 terms. Department course count falling about 5% per year. Department faculty is about 14% below its recent average. | 2029 Summer: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 summer terms since 2017. | 2029 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2028 | 2028 Fall: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 fall terms since 2016. | 2028 Spring: 50% chance, low confidence. Offered in 4 of 5 spring terms since 2022. Section count rising about 41% per year over 2 terms. Department course count falling about 4% per year. Department faculty is about 13% below its recent average. | 2028 Summer: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 summer terms since 2016. | 2028 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2027 | 2027 Fall: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 fall terms since 2015. | 2027 Spring: 52% chance, low confidence. Offered in 4 of 5 spring terms since 2022. Section count rising about 15% per year over 3 terms. Department course count falling about 3% per year. Department faculty is about 13% below its recent average. | 2027 Summer: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 summer terms since 2015. | 2027 Intersession: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2026 | Not offered | 2 sections | Not offered | No data |
| 2025 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2024 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2023 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2022 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
Meeting times
Recent first- Tue, Fri, 2:50 PM–4:05 PM JC217 2026-220252023
- Tue, Fri, 12:00 PM–1:15 PM JC118 2026-12022
| Term | Professor | Type | Credits | Enrollment | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Scott Hendricks | Lecture | 1 | 25 of 25 enrolled | 33678 |
| Spring 2026 | Scott Hendricks | Lecture | 1 | 25 of 25 enrolled | 34753 |
| Spring 2025 | Scott Hendricks | Lecture | 1 | 27 of 25 enrolled | 33678 |
| Spring 2023 | Scott Hendricks | Lecture | 1 | 20 of 20 enrolled | 31721 |
| Spring 2022 | Scott Hendricks | Lecture | 1 | 21 of 20 enrolled | 31721 |