CEPA Chart Comparing SF World-Views

CEPA Chart, Comparing Various Types of SF

Age of Wonder Golden Age Age of Acceptance Age of Rebellion Age We're In

Cosmology Pretty ordinary--
gadget stories start in basement labs; future is not that far off; aliens follow earth models of the exotic.
Basic rules of nature/ laws of science are applied rigidly.

Emphasis on invetion and extrapolation from known universe
Enlargement of universe in time and space. More sense of the far future. More out there but also more systematic in setting up future history and other planets.

Aliens beginning to be truly other. Mysterious.
Laws of science applied, but a much broader sense of science. More bringing in of chemistry and biology. Begin to drsaw on teh mental sciences

Still basically extrapolative

Epistemology
Simple problem-solving
Reason is supreme and man can solve any problem he runs into (women don't exist mentally).
Fascination with details of scientific processes.

Focus on engineering and chemistry
Problem solving is still central, but problems are more complex.
Save humantity a major motive.
Reason still important; some sense that universe may be bigger and stranger than we think.
Also there is now a social context to ideas-- politics come in.
Prominence of math and physics

Psychology
Rudimentary.
Lots of repressed sex--target audience adolescent males. Women tend to be asexual or in peril.
Lots of Oedipal fantasies: showing daddy how strong I am. People are much more complicated. They have motivations, flaws etc.
Still not much awareness of women.

Axiology
Basic "American" values: optomism, freedom, crativity, ingenuity.
Progress defined in terms of technological growth.

What is most valued aspect of humanity is spirit of adventure and curiosity "to boldly go."

Aliens nothing but cartoon bad guys.
Science is what makes humans great..not jsut inventions, but understanding the universe.
Progress is more understanding.

Good/bad pretty clear. Aliens are totally evil.

Back to my Home Page

Back to SF Home Page

This page has been accessed

times since January 20, 1999

Website designed and maintained by Dr. Elisa Kay Sparks

Last update: 1/20/01

	Age of Wonder	Golden Age	Age of Acceptance	Age of Rebellion	Age We're In
Cosmology	Pretty ordinary-- gadget stories start in basement labs; future is not that far off; aliens follow earth models of the exotic. Basic rules of nature/ laws of science are applied rigidly. Emphasis on invetion and extrapolation from known universe	Enlargement of universe in time and space. More sense of the far future. More out there but also more systematic in setting up future history and other planets. Aliens beginning to be truly other. Mysterious. Laws of science applied, but a much broader sense of science. More bringing in of chemistry and biology. Begin to drsaw on teh mental sciences Still basically extrapolative
Epistemology	Simple problem-solving Reason is supreme and man can solve any problem he runs into (women don't exist mentally). Fascination with details of scientific processes. Focus on engineering and chemistry	Problem solving is still central, but problems are more complex. Save humantity a major motive. Reason still important; some sense that universe may be bigger and stranger than we think. Also there is now a social context to ideas-- politics come in. Prominence of math and physics
Psychology	Rudimentary. Lots of repressed sex--target audience adolescent males. Women tend to be asexual or in peril. Lots of Oedipal fantasies: showing daddy how strong I am.	People are much more complicated. They have motivations, flaws etc. Still not much awareness of women.
Axiology	Basic "American" values: optomism, freedom, crativity, ingenuity. Progress defined in terms of technological growth. What is most valued aspect of humanity is spirit of adventure and curiosity "to boldly go." Aliens nothing but cartoon bad guys.	Science is what makes humans great..not jsut inventions, but understanding the universe. Progress is more understanding. Good/bad pretty clear. Aliens are totally evil.