This call for papers from a new online periodical, the Journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy, came my way and so I thought I should share it:
Call for Papers: Journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy, Vol.2, 2019
From Dystopian Caves to Galactic Federations: Social and Political Philosophy in Science Fiction Stories.
One of the main roles of science fiction has been to warn us (sometimes humorously, sometimes through grim pessimism) of looming social dangers: the product of particular ideas, technologies or social trends. Just how powerful these warnings can be in the public’s imagination may be gauged by the ubiquity of the expression “Big Brother” in political reflection. Occasionally, too, SF has been used to propose somewhat utopian forms of organization. The goal of our 2019 Yearly Theme is to promote a critical discussion of these themes. Are recent dystopian stories warning us about possible bias, or do they instead reinforce us in our blindspots? Are there to be found in SF particularly creative systems of social organization that might be worth exploring? What does SF have to say about the explosive use of big data in social vigilance and control? Above all, what does SF bring to this philosophical discussion that is particular to its own domain?
The deadline for the first round of reviews for its yearly theme is October 1st, 2018.
The Journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy is a peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that aims to foster the appreciation of science fiction as a medium for philosophical reflection. It focuses on the analysis of philosophical themes in science fiction in all formats and on their use for the discussion, teaching, and narrative modeling of philosophical ideas.
Also accepted all year round:
– General articles on SF & Philosophy (i.e., not necessarily connected to the Yearly Theme).
– Response essays (short responses to published articles)
– Book reviews (see our Book Review Wishlist for some ideas!)
Contact the Editor at [email protected] with any questions, or visit www.jsfphil.org for more information.
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