Do we learn more from utopian or dystopian science fiction?
52
17
127
Conversation
On average, most people learn more from negative visions. But all it takes are a few people to internalize and chase a genuinely inspiring and challenging vision to save the world for another few decades!
2
11
Replying to
I do wonder how many of those positive visions are motivated by a well formed mental model of the negative visions and a desire to avoid them!
Replying to
The nice thing about the positive vision is you've got a concrete thing to chase, though fewer might agree. The nice thing about the negative vision is that lots more people will agree to avoid it, but it will be hard to get agreement about what they should chase...
6
Replying to
One other angle might be to consider how notions of going to heaven vs avoiding hell have affected different Christian leaders and movements over time.
1
I think it's interesting how what is considered dystopia changes over the years. The concept of an always connected phone 50 - 100 years ago was horrifying to many more people vs today.
1
1
Show replies
it's hard to say why, but i do feel like we learn from the credible parts of science fiction, the worked-out ness of the consequences. the expanse has captured a lot of people lately and i would say it's neither utopian or dystopian, though the story has conflict
great question!
1