Which element is most likely to be found in a work of science fiction?

In the context of science fiction, the element of a moral conflict between human and nonhuman characters is particularly significant. This genre often explores themes related to the relationship between humanity and technology, artificial intelligence, alien encounters, and various forms of nonhuman entities. The conflicts arising in these narratives frequently raise deep philosophical questions about identity, ethics, and the nature of humanity itself. By incorporating nonhuman characters—be they extraterrestrial beings, robots, or other forms of life—science fiction can probe the moral implications of coexistence, competition, and conflict between different forms of consciousness.

This element distinguishes science fiction from other genres. While humor, psychological introspection, and realism play important roles in literature, they do not specifically capture the core essence of science fiction, which often engages with speculative concepts and fundamental questions about existence and morality involving nonhuman entities.