Cultural, scientific and philosophical aspects in the work of Stanislaw Lem

Abstract

The aim of this article is to highlight the complexity of Stanislaw Lem’s work and present it from three perspectives: cultural, scientific and philosophical. Lem is widely associated with his contribution to culture, including foreign ones, because his science fiction books are widely known all over the world. Nevertheless, we cannot forget that he was also a scientist who repeatedly referred to civilization problems. He also devoted a lot of attention to anthropology and related ethics. Moreover, he strongly
criticized postmodern art, which he considered incomprehensible, and even strongly distanced himself from some of its manifestations. Stanislaw Lem’s activity can also be considered in a philosophical context. In his most famous book titled Solaris there are many references to philosophy, especially to cognition. This book highlights the potential problem of human contact with an extraterrestrial being and the impossibility of knowledge in isolation from language. Discussing Lem from various perspectives allows for a better understanding of his activity, which not only included science fiction novels, but also deep reflection on cultural, scientific and philosophical issues.