Between Literature and Science: Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge by Peter Swirski

by Peter Swirski

(from the back cover) In "Between Literature and Science" Peter Swirski uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine the intellectual scope of Edgar Allan Poe and Stanislaw Lem. He shows that they propose far reaching hypotheses in aesthetics, epistemology, philosophy of science, and pragmatics, as well as cosmology, artificial intelligence, and futurology. Swirski argues that previous studies of Poe and Lem have misrepresented their artistic achievements by neglecting these broader philosophical and scientific ambitions. His analysis leads to bold arguments about the nature of literature and its relation to a broad range of other disciplines. "Breaking free of the duldrums of postmodernist thought, Swirski writes with directness and vigor, and gives new hope for the future of literary studies." Jerrold Levinson, University of Maryland. "A bold challenge to disciplinary narrowness... Between Literature and Science makes a significant contribution to Poe scholarship, Lem scholarship, literary theory, philosophy of literature, epistemology, and aesthetics... It stands out from the rank and file of academic books by virtue of the breadth and depth of the reading and thinking it exemplifies and conveys... Rarely have I been so enthusiastic about a book." Paisley Livingston, Department of Philosophy, University of Aarhus. "Peter Swirski, a brilliant literary critic and a superb translator, deserves wide recognition as a scholar in American and Polish literatures. His expertise and thoroughness as a researcher and translator warrant complete faith in his critical and scholarly work." Stanislaw Lem.

Genres: Academic

Paperback Bunko

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the author was going to use Poe's Eureka to make interesting connections between science and poetry, but he mostly just demolished the extent of Poe's knowledge of his contemporarys' scientific work. I enjoyed more some really interesting analysis of Lem's portrayal of the shortcomings of science in The Invincible - how little it might equip us to understand the totally alien entity. I felt his discussion of AI as author was a bit lacking in reference to the text and it also seemed dated, but then I realised that, having been written in 2000 it was actually quite prescient and it might be interesting to follow some of that thinking in later work, informed by advances in machine learning as applied to creativity.

[Wucaixia · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good