The Literary Ethics Of "Artificial Human" In Liu Cixin’s Science Fiction Novels

As a representative writer of the new generation of Chinese science fiction literature,Liu Cixin has raised Chinese science fiction to new heights.His science fiction strongly promotes the beauty of science and technology,but at the same time,he also gives profound thoughts to the relationship between science and ethics.There are many meaningful images of "artificial human beings" in science fiction,and the "artificial human" created or modified by the use of science and technology are the result of scientific choices.Based on a close reading of Liu Cixin’s science fiction novels,this paper examines the " artificial human " in four of Liu Cixin’s science fiction novels,The Age of Angels,The Devil’s Building Blocks,Life,and The Maintenance of Mankind,with the help of theories of literary ethics criticism,and then explores the writer’s ethical concepts and the reflections that can be triggered by the readers.The thesis consists of three parts: the introduction,the body,and the conclusion.The introduction part first briefly sorts out the development of Chinese science fiction literatu re,and focuses on the status and value of Liu Cixin’s science fiction in the history of Chinese science fiction literature.Then,it sorts out the research status of Liu Cixin’s science fiction,e xplores the weak links in academic research on it,and then elaborates the basis and significan ce of the topic of this paper.The first chapter analyzes the ethical identity of "artificial human" in Liu Cixin’s four sci ence fiction works from the perspective of literary ethics criticism.The "artificial human" is t he product of "scientific choice".Because of the uncertainty of his identity,after his birth,he has become confused about his ethical identity and has a sphinx-like identity mystery.The second chapter analyzes the ethical dilemmas in the aspects of birth,family life and social activities from the perspective of the uncertainty of the ethical identity of "artificial hu man".In the aspect of life,"artificial human" is faced with the dilemma of "resembling huma n but not human".On the family level,it is difficult to realize the appeal of "artificial human" to family life.On the social level,"artificial human" is in the dilemma of the assimilation pro cess of human society.The third chapter analyzes the ethical choice made by "artificial human" in the face of et hical dilemma,and the ethical tragedy caused by the choice.Because of the uncertainty of the innate ethical identity,"artificial human" falls into an ethical dilemma,and can only solve the ethical dilemma through acquired ethical choice.However,after integrating into human bein gs and resisting human beings,"artificial human" finally goes to the end of destruction.The fourth chapter examines Liu Cixin’s ethical thoughts of anti-anthropocentrism,dysto pia and anti-abuse of science and technology from the above ethical analysis of the image of "artificial human",and analyzes Liu Cixin’s ethical thoughts from the perspective of reality.Th e reflection on reality in Liu Cixin’s "artificial human" science fiction brings ethical and mora l enlightenment to human beings and gives play to the ethical teaching function of literature.The epilogue summarizes the main body of the paper,and points out that Liu Cixin’s sci ence fiction,especially the "artificial human" image in the novel,has the spirit of technologic al reflection while advocating science and technology,and expresses deep concern for the soc ial reality.