"Have Space Suit – Will Travel" de Robert Heinlein : a novel to question students' relationship with authority?

Author(s)

  • Estelle Blanquet Université de Bordeaux

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51777/relief17558

Keywords:

authority argument, science fiction, Robert Heinlein, pedagogical uses of fiction , scientific method

Abstract

In the modern society, largely informed by science and technology, the societal challenges facing the younger generations are immense. Yet, the latest international tests highlight major shortcomings in the scientific literacy of young French pupils, despite a large consensus over the necessity for them to acquire scientific skills and to establish healthy relationship with science, its applications and its direct societal implications. One key challenge of this training is to help the students acquire a relationship to authority that is very specific to scientific culture, namely the refusal of the argument from authority as the sole argument, which stands at the very foundation of modern science. However, science teachers are faced with a difficulty: there's something of a paradox in instructing students to be wary of authoritative discourse through an authoritative argument. Science fiction, and more specifically hard science fiction, could provide a way around this difficulty. By way of example, we use extracts from a novel by Robert Heinlein, Have Spacesuit – Will Travel, to derive pedagogical uses likely to help young readers develop a healthy relationship with authority and knowledge, and to make them aware of different types of argument.

Author Biography

  • Estelle Blanquet, Université de Bordeaux

    An Assistant Professor of Science Education at the University of Bordeaux (INSPE), Estelle Blanquet trains future school teachers in the scientific method and inquiry-based science education. Her research activity shows a dual focus: elementary criteria of scientificity for school science and their appropriation by kindergarten children and their teachers; and the educational use of science-fiction and comics. She chairs ESERA’s special interest group on early-years science, and the pegagogical commission of the French Physical Society (SFP). She is the founder of the annual Education and Science-fiction workshop held at INSPE Bordeaux as well as the co-organiser of the Sciences & Fiction workshop in Peyresq.

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Published

2023-09-15

How to Cite

“‘Have Space Suit – Will Travel’ de Robert Heinlein : a novel to question students’ relationship with authority?” (2023) RELIEF - REVUE ÉLECTRONIQUE DE LITTÉRATURE FRANÇAISE, 17(1), pp. 37–49. doi:10.51777/relief17558.