Minor in Environmental Studies - The Origins of Science Fiction in Early Modern Europe
HSTC 2340 The Origins of Science Fiction in Early Modern Europe
CREDIT HOURS: 3
In 1500, literate Europeans lived in a bounded, geocentric universe. By 1800, the sun had replaced the earth at the centre of a limited planetary system situated in infinite space. These changes prompted early modern philosophers, scientists and writers to consider the possibility that the universe might contain a plurality of worlds. This course will explore the ways in which the “plurality” theme was developed in some of the earliest works of science fiction. We will consider this theme as it appears in stories of intergalactic voyages, utopian societies, and encounters with extraterrestrial beings, paying special attention to the ways in which early modern writers used these tales to speculate on philosophical, political, and scientific issues.
FORMAT: Seminar
CROSS-LISTING:
EMSP 2340.03
EXCLUSIONS:
EMSP 2330.03