The Genre is the Metaphor

It seems to be that more than any other genre, Science Fiction is able to focus on the human race in three disctint ways. It asks three simple questions: What are we? What ought we to be? What will we be?

1984 and Brave New World each illustrate the prophetic nature of Sci-Fi, in this case predicting rather bleak futures in which mankind is the author of its own destruction.

Other works illustrate the opposite, a basic belief in humanism. Examples include Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, Orson Scott Card's Worthing Saga, and Frank Herbert's Dune. (though this last one is certainly debatable)

Often Sci-Fi works are able to focus on what it means to be human by setting up a comparison with what isn't. James Cameron is a master of this technique, doing so in four of his films, most recently Avatar.

Many works focus on a single aspect of human nature, often his aggressive and warlike impulses. In Orson Scott Card's Enders Game such focus is brilliantly contrasted with man's empathy.

I am in no way saying that only Sci-Fi is able to address these three basic questions, or even that it always does so. However, it seems clear to me that all genres are coupled with natural strengths and weaknesses. Westerns are narrow in their field of scope. Romances easily fall prey to the hobgoblins of repetiveness and tripe.

While Sci-Fi is not without its own specters, as a genre it has the natural strength of lending itself to casuist concerns. Perhaps this is because by its nature it focuses on questions of the future. Perhaps this is because of its often large scope, covering large areas of space and vast amounts of time (Asimov's "The Last Question") Perhaps this is because of its focus on an individual's place within society, on his ability to impact change.

*Author recommends every example listed above