Research Project: Individual Essay or Group Presentation
For this project, you may either write a 6-page (2000-word) Essay or give an in-class
Group Presentation. For either option, you identify and explain a philosophical issue and
summarize two separate works of science fiction (a short story, novel, film, or TV show)-outside
of the works assigned for the class–that raise this issue (explaining precisely how they do so).
You also introduce a philosopher (one who has not been assigned to the class) who has views on
that issue, summarize those views (including the reasons your philosopher gives for holding
them) and explain how the sci-fi works relate to those views on the issue. Presentations should
be 20 minutes long and include some sort of visual aid (e.g., power-point, drawn posters, etc.).
Presenters must also submit a 600-word summary outline of their presentation.
Philosophical issue: Is time travel possible?
Philosopher: David Lewis
Sci-Fi Media: Back to the Future, Interstellar