Le côté démocratique de la science-fiction

Abstract

Le XXe siècle a vu croître la défiance du public envers les avancées technologiques. Néanmoins, au XXIe siècle, au regard du rapport NBIC (nano-technology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science), il semble que la science ait rattrapé la science-fiction. L’accroissement de la défiance du public d’un côté et des capacités de la science de l’autre nous encourage à développer le débat public sur les sciences. Le récent débat sur les nanotech- nologies en France montre en effet que le public attend que soit reconnue sa légitimité à participer aux stratégies d’orientation scientifique et technologique des nations. Il est donc crucial de trouver de nouveaux outils qui favorisent le débat démocratique à propos des sciences et de leurs retombées technologiques. Nous soutenons ici que la science-fiction présente des atouts majeurs qui pourraient répondre à ce défi et faciliter le dialogue des sciences et de la société.

Suspicion towards technological advances has progressively grown during the xxth century. However, in the XXIst century, reading the NBIC (nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science) report of the National Science Foundation, we can note that science has caught up with science fiction. These changes in public mentality on one side and in scientific capacities on the other argue for an evolution of the debate on sciences. The recent example of the national debate on nanotechnology in France has clearly shown that the public is no longer waiting for additional sources of scientific knowledge but rather waiting for the recognition of its authority to participate in the definition of the national R&D priority and associated scientific strategies. This is all the more legitimate that these strategies will have profound impact on the future of our societies and therefore cannot be decided only by scientists. Hence, it is crucial to identify innovative tools promoting debate on sciences and their technological spin-off. Here, we contend that science fiction has major assets that could face this challenge and facilitate the dialogue between sciences and society.