Aspirations of Science Fiction

One of the aspirations of mankind is to achieve utopia, which is widely insinuated as a possibility in much of the science fiction genre. The epitome of civilization would mean that much of the tasks individuals and nations find difficult would be facilitated by the epitome of science. However, when life imitates art through imagination and ingenuity, the extraordinary becomes ordinary; much like the existence of certain previously unfeasible paraphernalia taken as it is at face value today. The daily use of such items as cell phones, computers and automatic doors do not even register as miraculous inventions, but as commonplace routine. The ethics concerning potential advancements in relation to society are also important considering that technologies such as gene therapy and issues such as privacy are highly controversial. Science fiction provides humanity with the ability to view the possibilities of the future and the consequences associated with the innovation associated with it.

The assumption that every idea implemented in a science fiction story will grow into something corporal is ridiculous. However, it should be acknowledged that many items that were previously only a part of a piece of literature have become actual objects in use today. Space flight has always been an integral part in many science fiction books, and is now an accepted part of everyday science. It has lead to many advancements, and inspired further novels on life in space, creating a sort of reciprocating circle of inspiration and innovation. That particular development is one of many that have challenged the way that human beings collectively see the world they exist in.

As science progresses, society is expected to maintain an equal level of ethics regarding that science. However, scientific thinking does not always involve the acceptance of all people, whether for religious reasons or otherwise. An example of such would be the advances made with stem cell research today, and the controversy it has sparked on a political and religious field. Some feel that it is unethical to use embryonic stem cells as material for treatments, while others see it as an avenue to solve ailments such as spinal injuries. These issues have not only been previously questioned, but have been questioned in many science fiction novels as principles behind owning parts of the human genome. People are entitled to being their own person and “in a sense, bodily ownership is the most fundamental kind of ownership we know” (Crichton 504). Using another beings genetic material for medical purposes