The Multiverse in Science Fiction, Metaphysics and Natural Science
Mika Oksanen, University of Helsinki
Abstract
In this article I go through the history of the notion of a multiverse, and compare how it has been used in non-fiction (in philosophy and natural science), and in science fiction. Within non-fiction I discuss, among others, modal realism and theories of branching space-time in metaphysics, and within natural science, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics and the theories of cosmic inflation and braneworlds. In fiction I look (among other subjects) at Victorian precursors of the notion of multiverse, Michael Moorcock’s multiverse, super-hero multiverses, and utopias and dystopias that make use of a multiverse. I also discuss the danger of nihilism raised by many versions of a theory of a multiverse. I also examine and critique, in the light of philosophy and natural science, the feasibility of some common tropes of this type of narrative—like that of a person meeting duplicates or counterparts when traveling through the multiverse.
Published: 2026 – 06 – 01
Issue: Vol 9 (2026)
Section: Charting the Stars
Copyright (c) 2026 Mika Oksanen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By submitting to this journal, you acknowledge that the work you submit has not been published before.
Articles and any other work submitted to this journal are published under an Attribution / Non-Commercial Creative Commons license; that is, by virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use – with proper attribution – in educational and other non-commercial settings.
There are no fees for authors publishing in the Journal.
Journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy 
You must be logged in to post a comment.