La fantascienza all’esplorazione dell’«ultima frontiera»: dilemmi etici e conflitti giuridici nell’universo narrativo di «Star Trek», e oltre

The essay discusses how science fiction narratives often focus on deep and complex issues of justice and injustice, raising questions of direct relevance also for present-day lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, judges and law practitioners in general. Through an analysis of the main narrative techniques used in sci-fi to raise legal and moral questions, as well as a discussion of some literary and TV series examples, this article discusses how high-quality science fiction may help us reflect on legal issues ranging from the possible rights of future generations and non-human beings, to the regulation of autonomous weapons. More broadly, the essay shows how sci-fi can provide the reader (or viewer) with a fundamental 'moral training ground' and thus help further an ethical education for both legal practitioners and citizens at large.