Limitation of language (linguistic relativism)

Unique life experience (cultural background, childhood trauma) forming different perspective on moral values, prejudices, and etc. **

Diversity of how one perceives the world, the other beings, and the self

Intellectual ability

Lack of courage and will to reduce conflict

Possible approach

• From literature critique point of view

• From scientific research point of view

Examples of "them"

• AI

• Aliens (Heptapods, Eridians, etc.)

• Osden

People always misunderstands each other. Everyone is born differently, thinks differently, perceive the world differently, interpret other’s words differently, feels their own emotion differently, express their thoughts differently, and ultimately, desire different goals. Each human is truly unique being in the universe in a sense that they are not a copy-pasted silicon brain. Although such diversities enable creativity to the humanity building mind-blowing cultural heritage, I believe that there is a great discrepancy between humans no one could easily jump over. Moreover, I think that the gap between human minds is the most critical obstacle blocking cooperation and altruism but causing division and conflict in our society.

Meanwhile, I was always fascinated by the world drawn by SF novels that reflects our technology and society. They provide an unusual and imaginative metaphor on our society, technology, and people living in and using them by projecting those elements towards the future. SF novels not only reflects some fragment of our world but also magnifies contemporary social problems as the SF plot usually is an extrapolation of our society.

In this context, I got to wonder how the conflict between human and alien is portrayed in SF novels. I hope several contemporary SF novels could shine a hint on what is the origin of a conflict, how it evolves, and possibly what should be done to resolve our social discord.

Reading materials

I am planning to read and analyze the following contemporary SF novels and optionally a literature paper dealing with a writing guide about opposition between protagonist and antagonist. ChatGPT might be a powerful guide to set the starting point of my research.

-       Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

-       Reasons to be Cheerful - Greg Egan

-       SF series by Choyeop Kim (김초엽)

Expected outcome

I guess the origin of misunderstanding would be classified into several categories such as linguistic difference, diversified life history and experience, dissimilar cultural background, or lack of proper communication. Once I figure out the source of the discrepancy, additional topics, including the most primitive cause responsible for the formation of the gap or the way one can narrow it down, could be further investigated.

• From where and how does the discrepancy between intellectual beings originate in SF novels?

https://padlet.com/seohyonclass/a-conversation-with-ken-liu-nhsl2l0j5xoe5cnv

Evolution of The Last Question

https://padlet.com/seohyonclass/evolution-of-the-last-question-g82gzrntx53ccrr1

Story of Your Life Short Paper Ideas

https://padlet.com/seohyonclass/story-of-your-life-short-paper-ideas-aj8xz3bcpkljxf38

The Legacy Analysis Activity

https://padlet.com/seohyonclass/the-legacy-analysis-activity-b6o45w9y6e4zr4rv