| | '''Science fiction''' is a form of [[literature]] and movies that often includes speculation as to a possible [[science|scientific]] or [[technology|technological]] discovery, invention, or project that has not yet come to pass, or something related to an alien invasion or space travel. Such a project is usually, but not always, intended as a metaphor for an unsettling social change, or a vehicle to introduce a discussion of such change. A speculative project may, but does not necessarily, violate the laws of nature as most scientists understand them. A speculative discovery may be either a new scientific law, or a revision of an existing law, or of an object, substance, environment, or even an entire [[civilization]] previously unknown to man. | | '''Science fiction''' is a form of [[literature]] and movies that often includes speculation as to a possible [[science|scientific]] or [[technology|technological]] discovery, invention, or project that has not yet come to pass, or something related to an alien invasion or space travel. Such a project is usually, but not always, intended as a metaphor for an unsettling social change, or a vehicle to introduce a discussion of such change. A speculative project may, but does not necessarily, violate the laws of nature as most scientists understand them. A speculative discovery may be either a new scientific law, or a revision of an existing law, or of an object, substance, environment, or even an entire [[civilization]] previously unknown to man. |
| | + | Arguably science fiction is fundamentally [[conservative]], as it is based in [[logic]] though not always in physical reality. Often science fiction warns against false ideologies such as [[scientism]] (e.g., ''[[Frankenstein]]''), or predicts future developments (here are 15 science fiction predictions that came true: [https://www.sciencealert.com/these-15-wild-sci-fi-predictions-about-future-tech-actually-came-true]). |
| | Alternatively, it may explore the implications of a ''kind'' of sentient being, society or civilization that is significantly different from any with which we are familiar at the time of writing. Such a kind would be a radical departure from anything that remotely resembles a human being, or the societies or civilizations that human beings have built. | | Alternatively, it may explore the implications of a ''kind'' of sentient being, society or civilization that is significantly different from any with which we are familiar at the time of writing. Such a kind would be a radical departure from anything that remotely resembles a human being, or the societies or civilizations that human beings have built. |