Stanisław Lem – a Philosopher of the Future
Stanisław Lem – a Philosopher of the Future
“Contrary to appearances, a person does not create their own goals. They are imposed by the era in which they were born; one can either serve them or rebel against them, but the subject of service or rebellion comes from the outside. In order to experience complete freedom in searching for goals, a person would have to be completely alone, which is impossible, because one who is not brought up among people cannot become human.”
“We do not actually want to conquer the cosmos; we only want to extend the Earth to its boundaries. Some planets are supposed to be desert-like, just like the Sahara, others icy like the poles, or tropical like the Brazilian jungle. We are humane and noble; we do not wish to subjugate other races—we only want to pass on our values to them and, in return, adopt their heritage. We see ourselves as knights of the holy Contact. That is the second falsehood. We are not looking for anyone except humans. We have no need for other worlds. We need mirrors. We do not know what to do with other worlds. One is enough for us—and we are already choking on it.”
“Man set out to encounter other worlds, other civilizations, without having fully explored his own nooks and crannies, blind alleys, wells, barricaded and dark doors.”
—Stanisław Lem, Solaris
Stanisław Lem is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing contemporary Polish writers and also a philosopher. He is the author of such fascinating works as Solaris, The Cyberiad (“Bajki robotów” in Polish), and The Star Diaries (“Dzienniki gwiazdowe”). In his works, Lem often presents the human condition in a futuristic way, showing that it remains unchanged despite shifts in time and variations in political, economic, and cultural circumstances. What is particularly compelling in Lem’s literature is his critical and sometimes ironic stance toward humanity—yet it is not devoid of the author’s goodwill toward his subject.
It is certainly worthwhile to explore Lem’s body of work. He not only writes science fiction novels but also philosophical treatises such as Fantastyka i futurologia (“Fantasy and Futurology”), Dialog, and Summa Technologiae. Lem exemplifies the combination of a rich imagination and a scientific mind, which makes his works so fascinating. If we want to understand modern human beings and their fate—and read something genuinely engaging—the works of Lem seem a perfect choice. His visions of the future open up intriguing possibilities.
Lem tackles issues that are important for humanity, such as the ecological question in Ratujmy kosmos! (“Let’s Save the Cosmos!”) or the problem of human identity in Dialog, which references Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous by the famous philosopher George Berkeley. Lem’s ideas can be truly captivating, as in the case of the electric knights and dragons featured in The Cyberiad, a collection suitable for both children and adults. Lem’s universe is constructed with remarkable consistency, yet it also maintains distance and humor, making it so appealing to readers. Although Lem addresses serious themes, he does not treat them with complete solemnity, nor does he suggest a single valid interpretation. As a result, readers can form their own views on the problems raised in his texts.
Lem is not just an outstanding writer but also a philosopher and visionary. His predictions about the future can be surprising, yet they remain coherent and significant. Furthermore, the author makes use of a wide range of stylistic forms (novels, short stories, philosophical treatises), which renders his work so rich and extraordinary. Lem’s originality lies not only in his willingness to tackle difficult subjects—such as the human condition, the development of technology and its impact on humanity, ethical dilemmas, and scientific, religious, or philosophical issues—but also in his creation of a consistent vision of the future. This is precisely why I titled my article “Stanisław Lem – a Philosopher of the Future.”
Lem not only outpaced modern literature by light-years (as evidenced by the array of subjects he takes on), but he also boldly advances theses on our culture and civilization. While Lem’s works are classified as science fiction, they are by no means confined—they are, in fact, open to the entire universe.
