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21L.434 | Fall 2024 | Undergraduate

# The Science Fiction of Freedom

#### Course Description

What does it mean to be free? Is freedom a state of mind? An inalienable property of the self?
The absence of coercive or oppressive structures? Such questions often inspire philosophers to
develop thought experiments about alternative worlds. These same questions lie at the heart of
many major works in science …
What does it mean to be free? Is freedom a state of mind? An inalienable property of the self?
The absence of coercive or oppressive structures? Such questions often inspire philosophers to
develop thought experiments about alternative worlds. These same questions lie at the heart of
many major works in science fiction. This subject will put the two together—philosophy and
science fiction—to consider speculative techniques for imagining freedom.

## Course Info

##### Instructor

- Prof. Ben Mangrum

##### Departments

- Literature

##### Topics

- Humanities
  - Literature
    - Fiction
- Society

##### Learning Resource Types

assignment Written Assignments
Readings
This course explores the theme of freedom through the lens of science fiction. (Image is in the public domain.)

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