"The Last Question" by Issac Asimov - Fictitious Science and Science Fiction

We talk with our buddy Gouff, whom we met at the beginning of the pandemic. Gouff writes for an online journal called Fǎn (反) on Medium. In this episode, we talk about the concept of fictitious science, a notion which challenges the allegation that a boundary exists between the literary and the literal. We also confront the (faulty) assertion that philosophy no longer plays a role in the domain of science. Furthermore, we attempt to apply some of the claims of fictitious science to a reading of Isaac Asimov's "The Last Question". Figures in the discussion include Deleuze, Quine, Putnam, Feyerabend, William James, Richard Dawkins, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. You can find Gouff's article here: https://medium.com/fan-publication/theses-on-fictitious-science-c607c925ed58Support the showSupport the podcast:AHRCCurrent classes at Acid Horizon Research Commons (AHRC): acidhorizonresearchcommons.comAHRC Course Archive: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/ahrc-course-archivesSubmit your course proposal: [email protected] LinksWebsite: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastBoycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1512615438LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/