The article highlights the recommendations of Harvard faculty and staff on science fiction books that examine key themes such as artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the societal implications of technology. Karen Brennan, a prominent figure in learning technologies, emphasizes the urgency of works like "Blindsight," which challenges traditional notions of consciousness and intelligence. Additionally, it features "Solaris," a novel that pushes scientists to rethink human connections against the backdrop of an intelligent ocean. These selections underscore the role of science fiction in shaping critical discourse about our future and present realities.
"Through the account of the crew's increasingly disturbing interactions with the aliens, Watts invites us to confront the uncomfortable possibility that consciousness - an aspect of human intelligence that feels so essential - might actually be an evolutionary aberration, a glitch that more powerful forms of intelligence would lack, beneficially."
"A team of scientists travels to the oceanic planet of Solaris, whose waters display potential signs of intelligence, forcing them to reevaluate the nature of consciousness and human connection."
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