A large spaceship traveling through the interstellar void, a group of scientists gathering for many hours trying to explain a mysterious phenomenon, an anthropomorphic robot plugging leaks from a reactor – these images are typical for Stanisław Lem’s works. Such scenes and narratives presented in his novels and shorter pieces are usually accompanied by reflections on nature and on our attempts to tame it. One of the four great essays by Lem – Summa Technologiae – is entirely devoted to considering the limitations of taking technological control over the universe. Large fragments of the most famous novels of the author – such as Solaris or His Master’s Voice – depict processes in the emergence of new theories and scientific paradigms. Therefore, reflection on the philosophical threads within his work cannot omit the philosophy of nature, the philosophy of science, and the philosophy of technology – on the contrary, it should rather start with them. As a result forth edition of the conference on the philosophy in the thought of Stanisław Lem is devoted to these themes.
– Lem as the evolutionist
– Lem and the role of chance in nature
– the Anthropic Principle from Lem’s perspective
– the problem of Silentium Universi
– “the world created by no one for no one” vs. “the world as a game-field”
– Lem’s thought and the philosophy of science in his time
– Lem and the problem of scientific revolutions
– Lem’s standpoint regarding the role of formal sciences
– Lem and the sociology of knowledge
– Lem and scientism
– the futurology of science in Lem’s works
– Lem about relations between science and technology
– Lem’s grotesque and his considerations regarding science and technology
– Lem and the goals of the development of technological civilisation
– the accuracy of Lem’s technological prognoses
– phantomatics
– auto-evolution
Passive participation in the conference is free of charge. Submissions should be sent to: filozofia.lema@gmail.com
Organisers: Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Pedagogical University of Cracow (UP) and the Polish Society of Philosophy – Cracow Branch (PTF).
