Science Fiction

[Resha Caner]

Do you think science fiction helps or hurts the general understanding of science?

I was observing how my kids reacted to the Iron Man movies and realized that what Tony Stark does is magic in scientific clothing. Such seems to be true of almost all Space Opera, which seems to be the most popular style for science fiction at the moment.

 

[Strathos]

Well yes. There is the difference between "hard" science fiction and "soft" science fiction, where the former includes things that are actually possible according to scientific understanding and justified by known scientific theories, whereas the latter is, as you say, "magic in scientific clothing".

 

[Resha Caner]

There is the difference between "hard" science fiction and "soft" science fiction ...

Maybe, but the definition of hard SF is rather soft.

A classic example would be Arthur C. Clarke, who was generally considered to write hard SF. In that regard, there are two aspects. First, some of his plot elements (such as A Fall of Moondust) are now known to be false. That doesn't really make it unscientific. After all, falsifiability is part of science. But what about 2001? Is it hard science to use realistic means of space travel on your way to discovering the space baby?

 

[Strathos]

It had some soft sci-fi elements to be sure, but it was certainly "harder" than stuff like Star Trek and Star Wars.

 

[Resha Caner]

It had some soft sci-fi elements to be sure, but it was certainly "harder" than stuff like Star Trek and Star Wars.

So you think hard SF promotes a scientific outlook? I'm not so sure. I love Asimov, and think The End of Eternity is the best SF book I've ever read. He is also considered a writer of hard SF. But I think he (and many writers of hard SF) are promoting a philosophy as well as science. If one becomes attached to the other ...

 

[Elendur]

If anything, I'd say it inspires.

 

[BuzzardHut]

Do you think science fiction helps or hurts the general understanding of science?

I was observing how my kids reacted to the Iron Man movies and realized that what Tony Stark does is magic in scientific clothing. Such seems to be true of almost all Space Opera, which seems to be the most popular style for science fiction at the moment.

I think some SCIFI scenarios hurt Christian values in the 50s and 70s with their no absolute pop psychology cultural conditioning and biased support for historical geology and new age beliefs.

I enjoy the irony and unsuspecting plot twists in scifi stories but not so much when they write God out of every scenario. I understand suspensions of beliefs must sometimes be applied to absorb their contexts but also enjoy Christian themes when subtly inserted into this genre.

I believe they are valuable in increasing vision and creativity to the applied technological sciences in this computer age.

 

[Strathos]

Sci-fi is written with many different philosophies, there are some that give the idea that technology is a good thing that will help the human race, and some that give the opposite idea.

 

[Resha Caner]

If anything, I'd say it inspires.

OK, I could go with that. I guess I can say that at least Iron Man prompted some discussions with my kids about science ... specifically some of the details of flight control and power density.

It's just that a few years back I made a trip to the emergency room because my youngest son jumped off a roof. I don't need any more of that.

 

[Elendur]

OK, I could go with that. I guess I can say that at least Iron Man prompted some discussions with my kids about science ... specifically some of the details of flight control and power density.

It's just that a few years back I made a trip to the emergency room because my youngest son jumped off a roof. I don't need any more of that.

Well, I can see how that would be a problem, but that goes for more than the science fiction genre.

You always have to temper the question "What if...?" with a bit of thought. Kids, more than adults, miss that.

 

[essentialsaltes]

If science fiction were the only source of scientific information... it would probably be terrible. But I like Elendur's answer that SF provides inspiration. Maybe arouse some curiosity that can be satisfied by seeking out a more trustworthy source of scientific information.

 

[JeremiahsBulldog]

Wait. . . you mean Iron Man is not a documentary?

 

[Shemjaza]

Some scientific advances were invented by people inspired by science fiction.

It's rarely particularly good about the details or precise methods of science, but I think it often functions a a cheerleader for the advantages or dangers of science.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Wait. . . you mean Iron Man is not a documentary?

 

[Michael]

OK, I could go with that. I guess I can say that at least Iron Man prompted some discussions with my kids about science ... specifically some of the details of flight control and power density.

It's just that a few years back I made a trip to the emergency room because my youngest son jumped off a roof. I don't need any more of that.

I jumped off our roof as a kid several times, once with an umbrella, again with towel and third with a bed sheet shaped like a parachute. I blame Mary Poppins, Superman and the Apollo missions. Fortunately no emergency room visits were required.

I'm with Elendur, I think it basically inspires the next generation of "scientists".

 

[Shemjaza]

I jumped off our roof as a kid several times, once with an umbrella, again with towel and third with a bed sheet shaped like a parachute. I blame Mary Poppins, Superman and the Apollo missions. Fortunately no emergency room visits were required.

I'm with Elendur, I think it basically inspires the next generation of "scientists".

Also Condor Man for children in the early 80s.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Wait. . . you mean Iron Man is not a documentary?

Perhaps it could be: The Real-Life Iron Man

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

So you think hard SF promotes a scientific outlook? I'm not so sure. I love Asimov, and think The End of Eternity is the best SF book I've ever read. He is also considered a writer of hard SF. But I think he (and many writers of hard SF) are promoting a philosophy as well as science. If one becomes attached to the other ...

The best SF is thought-provoking entertainment.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

OK, I could go with that. I guess I can say that at least Iron Man prompted some discussions with my kids about science ... specifically some of the details of flight control and power density.

It's just that a few years back I made a trip to the emergency room because my youngest son jumped off a roof. I don't need any more of that.

That's just kids - I know some who were jumping off roofs and falling out of trees long before Iron Man (which is more science-fantasy than hard SF, along with the other 'super-hero' comix). I blame Tarzan.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

If science fiction were the only source of scientific information... it would probably be terrible. But I like Elendur's answer that SF provides inspiration. Maybe arouse some curiosity that can be satisfied by seeking out a more trustworthy source of scientific information.

Yes; I spent most of my childhood reading all the SF I could get my hands on, which led me to a career in science and then IT - and subsequently cost me a fortune in gadgets and gizmos that never quite lived up to the hype - although if I'd seen a smartwatch or a mobile phone back then... oooh!