Abstract:
This study examined Frank Herbert's Dune as a significant work of speculative fiction that critically explores humanity’s evolving relationship with nature, technology, and the ethics of intervention. The research sought to uncover how Herbert’s work reflects the paradoxes of human ambition, the dangers of biogenetic manipulation, and the existential dilemmas inherent in transhumanist ideals. Using qualitative methodology rooted in textual analysis, the study aimed to decode Dune's layered critique of humanity's attempts to control evolutionary processes and the broader implications of such ambitions. The findings highlighted the novel’s central theme of genetic and ecological manipulation. Dune portrays human endeavours, driven by the quest for power and transcendence, as fraught with unintended consequences. Through its depiction of genetic programs and ecological exploitation, Herbert offers a chilling commentary on the moral compromises embedded in technological ambition. The text underscores the tension between aspirations for advancement and the fragility of life when subjected to extreme interventions, presenting a nuanced view of biotechnological manipulation’s repercussions. This analysis illuminated Dune's complex portrayal of human ambition, revealing Herbert’s critique of not only technological progress but also the societal and ethical frameworks that sustain it. In exploring human agency, the study also engaged with the philosophical and ethical dilemmas raised by Dune, particularly the limits of human intervention in natural processes. Ultimately, the findings positioned Dune as a timeless exploration of the moral and existential challenges posed by humanity's technological and ecological ambitions, underlining its continued relevance to contemporary debates on biotechnological ethics, environmental sustainability, and the dangers of unchecked human progress.
