Question

A utopia is a perfect or ideal society, a dystopia is a society that is in some way understable or even frightening.Dystoplas in science fiction are often based on some quality in the real present day wolrd. Why do you think that the themes of utopia and dystopia are common in science fiction

Answer 1

What could be similar between thses two in science fiction is that it could be a society that was meant to be ideal and perfect but be frightning in the way in which they are achieving said perfection. for example you could have a perfect society, but behind the walls technology could be brainwashing people to get them to cooperate and follow all the rules of society. At this point its a perfect society with the most horrific practices. In order to achieve a perfect society they are taking away free will and the ideal laws placed for human rights. Hope this help.

Answer 2

Science fiction delves not only into the possibilities of science but also its effects on civilization as a whole, which can be either positive or negative. Utopias and dystopias are the hypothetical extremes that result when we try to imagine the consequences of human choices or changes in society. When the choices or changes depend on science, the imagined consequences fall within the genre of science fiction.  

Many fictional utopias require science-driven advances—for example, the elimination of disease. In fact, some thinkers once held the view that the well-being of humankind could be achieved through advances in technology alone. Technology tends to play a major role in fictional dystopias as well.  Undesirable technologies, such as easily available weapons of mass destruction, are also based on science.  PLATO