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3.12 Science Fiction and Fate

Part of Unit 3: In Futurity, Someone Prophetic Sees in The World Scholar's Cup (WSC). Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

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Science fiction frequently explores the tension between free will and determinism. Ted Chiang’s What’s Expected of Us introduces a device called the Predictor that flashes light before a button is pressed. The machine always knows the future action. If human choices can be predicted perfectly, the story argues that free will might not exist. Chiang warns that accepting this idea could lead people to lose motivation, showing that belief in free will is essential for society even if determinism is logically true.

In this unit

20 lessons

  1. 3.1Prophecy, Fate, and the Future in PoetryPreview lesson
  2. 3.2DivinationPreview lesson
  3. 3.3Shang Dynasty Oracle BonesPreview lesson
  4. 3.4Forms of DivinationPreview lesson
  5. 3.5Forms of Future TellingPreview lesson
  6. 3.6Michio Kaku’s PredictionsPreview lesson
  7. 3.7Fortune Tellers in ArtPreview lesson
  8. 3.8Music and Fortune TellingPreview lesson
  9. 3.9Resurgence in DivinationPreview lesson
  10. 3.10Younger Generation Engaging with DivinationPreview lesson
  11. 3.11Psychological Mechanisms Behind Belief in DivinationPreview lesson
  12. 3.12Science Fiction and FateThis lesson
  13. 3.13Chinese Agricultural CalendarPreview lesson
  14. 3.14Gregorian and Chinese CalendarsPreview lesson
  15. 3.15Ancient and Historical Calendrical SystemsPreview lesson
  16. 3.16Weather ForecastingPreview lesson
  17. 3.17AI Weather ForecastingPreview lesson
  18. 3.18Difference Between Weather and Climate ModelsPreview lesson
  19. 3.19Systems Thinking and PredictabilityPreview lesson
  20. 3.20Cycles in Culture, Economy, and TechnologyPreview lesson

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