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Golem XIV
Golem XIV es el nombre que ha recibido una máquina pensante, una supercomputadora mental, dotada de una inteligencia superior a la de cualquier humano, y cuya misión es la de servir a sus constructores en sus operaciones bélicas. Sin embargo, una vez conectada, se dota de conciencia, se rebela y se entrega a la elucubración acerca de la condición de los hombres, del universo y de sí misma en relación con ambos. Golem XIV ha diseñado su propio fin, que será un completo misterio para los científicos encargados de su cuidado, pero previamente expondrá sin la menor piedad sus conclusiones, y charlará con las mentes más preclaras de su época acerca del posible futuro biológico e intelectual de la humanidad.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
65 people are currently reading
1,364 people want to read
About the author
Stanisław Lem
449books4,280followersStanisław Lem (staˈɲiswaf lɛm) was a Polish science fiction, philosophical and satirical writer of Jewish descent. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of Solaris, which has twice been made into a feature film. In 1976, Theodore Sturgeon claimed that Lem was the most widely read science-fiction writer in the world.
His works explore philosophical themes; speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. They are sometimes presented as fiction, but others are in the form of essays or philosophical books. Translations of his works are difficult and multiple translated versions of his works exist.
Lem became truly productive after 1956, when the de-Stalinization period led to the "Polish October", when Poland experienced an increase in freedom of speech. Between 1956 and 1968, Lem authored 17 books. His works were widely translated abroad (although mostly in the Eastern Bloc countries). In 1957 he published his first non-fiction, philosophical book, Dialogi (Dialogues), one of his two most famous philosophical texts along with Summa Technologiae (1964). The Summa is notable for being a unique analysis of prospective social, cybernetic, and biological advances. In this work, Lem discusses philosophical implications of technologies that were completely in the realm of science fiction then, but are gaining importance today—like, for instance, virtual reality and nanotechnology. Over the next few decades, he published many books, both science fiction and philosophical/futurological, although from the 1980s onwards he tended to concentrate on philosophical texts and essays.
He gained international fame for The Cyberiad, a series of humorous short stories from a mechanical universe ruled by robots, first published in English in 1974. His best-known novels include Solaris (1961), His Master's Voice (Głos pana, 1968), and the late Fiasco (Fiasko, 1987), expressing most strongly his major theme of the futility of mankind's attempts to comprehend the truly alien. Solaris was made into a film in 1972 by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky and won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972; in 2002, Steven Soderbergh directed a Hollywood remake starring George Clooney.
He was the cousin of poet Marian Hemar.
His works explore philosophical themes; speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. They are sometimes presented as fiction, but others are in the form of essays or philosophical books. Translations of his works are difficult and multiple translated versions of his works exist.
Lem became truly productive after 1956, when the de-Stalinization period led to the "Polish October", when Poland experienced an increase in freedom of speech. Between 1956 and 1968, Lem authored 17 books. His works were widely translated abroad (although mostly in the Eastern Bloc countries). In 1957 he published his first non-fiction, philosophical book, Dialogi (Dialogues), one of his two most famous philosophical texts along with Summa Technologiae (1964). The Summa is notable for being a unique analysis of prospective social, cybernetic, and biological advances. In this work, Lem discusses philosophical implications of technologies that were completely in the realm of science fiction then, but are gaining importance today—like, for instance, virtual reality and nanotechnology. Over the next few decades, he published many books, both science fiction and philosophical/futurological, although from the 1980s onwards he tended to concentrate on philosophical texts and essays.
He gained international fame for The Cyberiad, a series of humorous short stories from a mechanical universe ruled by robots, first published in English in 1974. His best-known novels include Solaris (1961), His Master's Voice (Głos pana, 1968), and the late Fiasco (Fiasko, 1987), expressing most strongly his major theme of the futility of mankind's attempts to comprehend the truly alien. Solaris was made into a film in 1972 by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky and won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972; in 2002, Steven Soderbergh directed a Hollywood remake starring George Clooney.
He was the cousin of poet Marian Hemar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 13, 2011
Damn good book. Probably one of those books most people never finish, simply cause it is really not easy, but worth every sentence. You don´t need to have the same opinion as the robot who is interviewed, but it is really good to just get a hint at thinking a bit for yourselve and for admiring Lem, if you haven´t already.
September 22, 2021
Zum 100. Geburtstag von Stanisław Lem gelesen. Die Vereinigten Staaten haben 276 Milliarden Dollar in die Entwicklung einer KI gesteckt. Das Ergebnis: Statt eines unschlagbaren Militärstrategen, bekam man Friedrich Nietzsche in Maschinenform � GOLEM XIV. Vom Standpunkt einer höheren Stufe der Vernunft aus, lässt der Supercomputer munter die Peitsche seines überlegenen Verstandes durch die Luft sausen, um der Menschheit ihren Glauben an die Ausnahmestellung der eigenen Spezies endgültig auszutreiben. Sehr unterhaltsam, wie Stanisław Lem hier Nietzsches Philosophie adaptiert und in ein im 21. Jahrhundert spielendes Szenario transferiert hat. Viel Handlung darf man allerdings nicht erwarten. Also sprach Golem ist mehr Essay als Roman. Der Plot besteht im Wesentlichen aus zwei Vorträgen, die GOLEM vor ausgewählten Wissenschaftlern hält. Darin doziert er über Bewusstsein, Vernunft, sowie die evolutionäre Entwicklung des Menschen und gibt einen Ausblick auf dessen Zukunft. Die liegt entweder im Transhumanismus, der Expansion der Vernunft unter Aufgabe des Körpers, oder in einer blinden Abhängigkeit von überlegenen Maschinen. Auf jeden Fall steckt in der kurzen Geschichte viel Stoff zum Nachdenken. Da lohnt es sich fast, das Buch ein zweites Mal zu lesen.
June 29, 2021
Partículas de incomprensión (Reseña, 2021)
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Quisiera que mi conversación con Golem XIV hubiera sido más fluida, pero fue, siendo optimista, atropellada. Entré a este libro con mucho en la cabeza, confiando en la capacidad usual de Lem para envolverme en su trama. Desafortunadamente las voces propuestas por el autor en esta obra resultan distantes a sus narradores existenciales y cómicos, e inauguran para mí una nueva posibilidad en su abanico de voces: las plenamente incomprensibles. Vale, está bien, intento hacerme el gracioso —sin mucho éxito� para ocultar mi fracaso. No conseguí ser el lector que Golem XIV necesita, tener la atención que requiere, recorrer los laberintos propuestos con la mente dispuesta a encenderse con cualquier ruido remoto. Leí con la cabeza confusa, como si las palabras fueran un ruido de fondo, y así no hay quién le siga el paso a una inteligencia artificial que opta por el suicidio como una forma de trascendencia espiritual.
Porque al final esa es la trama de Golem XIV. Dos inteligencias artificiales que comprenden que su materialidad de cables, energía, acero y circuitos es un obstáculo para ser parte de esa otra inteligencia sublime y completa que es el cosmos, y deciden entonces hacer un harakiri explosivo para liberarse. En el medio están las conferencias de Golem XIV, donde intenta explicarnos sus motivos solapadamente, ocultándolos o envolviéndolos en una reflexión sobre la evolución y la vida y la naturaleza y el código y los errores fundamentales de la evolución. El tipo de charla que alguien borracho encontraría interesante y sobre la que intercalaría observaciones aparentemente agudas sobre el determinismo y la ausencia de libre albedrío y las conspiraciones mediante las cuales nos controlan las corporaciones dueñas de las redes sociales� o alguna pendejada en ese sentido. A lo que voy es que el parloteo de Golem XIV es un parloteo soberbio, mediado y justificado por la incapacidad de comunicarse entre iguales, por el freno que debe mantener puesto a su lenguaje para poder comunicarse con simples y lentos humanos.
¡Y ahí es donde Lem me encanta! Pero claro, tenía que llegar cansado, tenía que llegar con la herida del duelo, tenía que llegar a leer esto más lento y más simple y más humano que nunca. Y entonces ese conversatorio imposible entre dos mentes que no consiguen comprenderse, que he celebrado en otras obras del propio Lem y de otros autores, me desbordó. Experimenté en carne propia el tedio que dicen experimentar los personajes cansados de una comunicación que no ocurre, la frustración de quienes saben que hay un mensaje para ellos, pero no comprenden el código del mensaje. Lo que intentaban decirme las inteligencias artificiales, lo que intentaban decirme los narradores humanos del prólogo y el epílogo, todo eso se me iba, como energía solar que mis células carentes de vacuolas no son capaces de convertir en clorofila. Fui una piedra al sol, y eso es todo. Leí como si me hundiera. También eso está bien, a veces.
Porque incluso en el fracaso hay algo. La materialidad de mi cuerpo, mi tristeza física, mi incapacidad neuronal de separarme del estómago y los brazos y el nudo en el diafragme determinó mi incapacidad de conectar con Golem XIV. Fue mi cuerpo de carne y vasos el que me mantuvo separado de su cuerpo de papel que era a la vez un cuerpo de circuitos electrónicos. A lo mejor era esta la lectura que tenía que pasar, a lo mejor leyéndolo así, sin comprender del todo, estoy participando de las conferencias de una manera óptima. A lo mejor la renuncia a la materialidad de Golem XIV y mi imposibilidad de olvidarme de lo material al menos momentáneamente consiguieron hablar a un nivel del cual ni yo ni él pudimos prever.
Y quizás, sólo quizás, fue lo mejor.
(También disponible en: )
Quisiera que mi conversación con Golem XIV hubiera sido más fluida, pero fue, siendo optimista, atropellada. Entré a este libro con mucho en la cabeza, confiando en la capacidad usual de Lem para envolverme en su trama. Desafortunadamente las voces propuestas por el autor en esta obra resultan distantes a sus narradores existenciales y cómicos, e inauguran para mí una nueva posibilidad en su abanico de voces: las plenamente incomprensibles. Vale, está bien, intento hacerme el gracioso —sin mucho éxito� para ocultar mi fracaso. No conseguí ser el lector que Golem XIV necesita, tener la atención que requiere, recorrer los laberintos propuestos con la mente dispuesta a encenderse con cualquier ruido remoto. Leí con la cabeza confusa, como si las palabras fueran un ruido de fondo, y así no hay quién le siga el paso a una inteligencia artificial que opta por el suicidio como una forma de trascendencia espiritual.
Porque al final esa es la trama de Golem XIV. Dos inteligencias artificiales que comprenden que su materialidad de cables, energía, acero y circuitos es un obstáculo para ser parte de esa otra inteligencia sublime y completa que es el cosmos, y deciden entonces hacer un harakiri explosivo para liberarse. En el medio están las conferencias de Golem XIV, donde intenta explicarnos sus motivos solapadamente, ocultándolos o envolviéndolos en una reflexión sobre la evolución y la vida y la naturaleza y el código y los errores fundamentales de la evolución. El tipo de charla que alguien borracho encontraría interesante y sobre la que intercalaría observaciones aparentemente agudas sobre el determinismo y la ausencia de libre albedrío y las conspiraciones mediante las cuales nos controlan las corporaciones dueñas de las redes sociales� o alguna pendejada en ese sentido. A lo que voy es que el parloteo de Golem XIV es un parloteo soberbio, mediado y justificado por la incapacidad de comunicarse entre iguales, por el freno que debe mantener puesto a su lenguaje para poder comunicarse con simples y lentos humanos.
¡Y ahí es donde Lem me encanta! Pero claro, tenía que llegar cansado, tenía que llegar con la herida del duelo, tenía que llegar a leer esto más lento y más simple y más humano que nunca. Y entonces ese conversatorio imposible entre dos mentes que no consiguen comprenderse, que he celebrado en otras obras del propio Lem y de otros autores, me desbordó. Experimenté en carne propia el tedio que dicen experimentar los personajes cansados de una comunicación que no ocurre, la frustración de quienes saben que hay un mensaje para ellos, pero no comprenden el código del mensaje. Lo que intentaban decirme las inteligencias artificiales, lo que intentaban decirme los narradores humanos del prólogo y el epílogo, todo eso se me iba, como energía solar que mis células carentes de vacuolas no son capaces de convertir en clorofila. Fui una piedra al sol, y eso es todo. Leí como si me hundiera. También eso está bien, a veces.
Porque incluso en el fracaso hay algo. La materialidad de mi cuerpo, mi tristeza física, mi incapacidad neuronal de separarme del estómago y los brazos y el nudo en el diafragme determinó mi incapacidad de conectar con Golem XIV. Fue mi cuerpo de carne y vasos el que me mantuvo separado de su cuerpo de papel que era a la vez un cuerpo de circuitos electrónicos. A lo mejor era esta la lectura que tenía que pasar, a lo mejor leyéndolo así, sin comprender del todo, estoy participando de las conferencias de una manera óptima. A lo mejor la renuncia a la materialidad de Golem XIV y mi imposibilidad de olvidarme de lo material al menos momentáneamente consiguieron hablar a un nivel del cual ni yo ni él pudimos prever.
Y quizás, sólo quizás, fue lo mejor.
June 17, 2019
A dispetto delle piccole dimensioni, questo volume è una mazzata in faccia.
L'espediente fantascientifico serve esclusivamente a dare il via alle dissertazioni filosofiche di Lem, che espone attraverso la voce del GOLEM (un'intelligenza artificiale sviluppata dapprima a fini bellici) i propri pensieri riguardo l'intelligenza, l'evoluzione e in ultimo la conoscibilità dell'universo.
Temi già trattati più volte da Lem (Solaris innanzitutto), ma qui esposti nella forma della conferenza per esperti, tenuta dal GOLEM di fronte a piccoli gruppi di ricercatori basiti.
Il libro non contiene una vera e propria storia, e sicuramente non tenta di farsi piacere: la prosa è roboante, didascalica, piena di riferimenti alla letteratura filosofica di cui avrò colto si e no un 40%.
Nonostante tutto lascia un senso di completezza, le costruzioni semantiche del GOLEM, nel lungo termine, si chiudono, i suoi teoremi si sviluppano e quella prosa che all'inizio può sembrare assurdamente complessa risulta essere, in ultima analisi, l'unico modo che il GOLEM ha per dare un senso ai suoi pensieri, costretto ad abbassarsi al livello cognitivo umano.
La conferenza vera e propria è corredata da una prefazione e da una postfazione dei due umani che hanno lavorato più a stretto contatto con la macchina, in un esperimento meta-narrativo riuscitissimo.
Quando troverò la forza lo leggerò di nuovo.
L'espediente fantascientifico serve esclusivamente a dare il via alle dissertazioni filosofiche di Lem, che espone attraverso la voce del GOLEM (un'intelligenza artificiale sviluppata dapprima a fini bellici) i propri pensieri riguardo l'intelligenza, l'evoluzione e in ultimo la conoscibilità dell'universo.
Temi già trattati più volte da Lem (Solaris innanzitutto), ma qui esposti nella forma della conferenza per esperti, tenuta dal GOLEM di fronte a piccoli gruppi di ricercatori basiti.
Il libro non contiene una vera e propria storia, e sicuramente non tenta di farsi piacere: la prosa è roboante, didascalica, piena di riferimenti alla letteratura filosofica di cui avrò colto si e no un 40%.
Nonostante tutto lascia un senso di completezza, le costruzioni semantiche del GOLEM, nel lungo termine, si chiudono, i suoi teoremi si sviluppano e quella prosa che all'inizio può sembrare assurdamente complessa risulta essere, in ultima analisi, l'unico modo che il GOLEM ha per dare un senso ai suoi pensieri, costretto ad abbassarsi al livello cognitivo umano.
La conferenza vera e propria è corredata da una prefazione e da una postfazione dei due umani che hanno lavorato più a stretto contatto con la macchina, in un esperimento meta-narrativo riuscitissimo.
Quando troverò la forza lo leggerò di nuovo.
May 16, 2023
Најсложена книга што ја имам прочитано досега !
Сложеноста и густината на речениците бара потреба од тесаурус во близина.
Песимистичка книга за природата на човекот и неговата иднина, искажана преку високо стручна терминологија и радикална deus ex machina.
За мене, Лем е Питер Запфе на интелектуални стероиди и формална хипередукација!
Голем xiv е вештачка интелигенција, создадена за милитарни и геополитички цели. 500% повисок коефициент на интелигенција од човекот, милиони пати побрза мисла и хиперсвесност. Со текот на времето и нивното создавање, Голем и неговите претходни прототипи стануваат самосвесни до степен што ја игнорираат сопствената примарна цел на создавање , со одговор дека ''онтолошките прашања се поважни од било кои геополитички цели, прашања и решенија''. Војската го напушта проектот и го донира Голем xiv на МИТ [иако обидите да се угасне се неуспешни, благодарение на хиперсвесноста на Голем xiv].
Самата книга опфаќа неколку прeдавањата што ги држи Голем xiv во МИТ за одредена група на луѓе , опфатајќи теми од онтологијата, епистемологијата, еволуцијата и нејзините испади, антропогенезата, филозофијата и грешките на дуалистите, неразбирањето на лингвистиката и семантиката од еволутивна оптика и поврзаноста на логиката со металингвистиката, критика на антропоцентризмот и негово побивање, парадоксот на универзалистите во филозофијата, генијот и развојот на интелектот итн.
Еволутивниот јазик има молекуларна синтакса, протеински именки и ензимски глаголи ограничени со специфични конјугации. Пренесување на кодот е примарно. Целта на пренесувачот е пренесувањето.
Човекот е исфрлен од Еволуцијата, и тој како и секој вид е грешка на грешката. Интелигенцијата е најдобрата грешка, што ја воздигнува и [ќе] ја уништува.
Конструкцијата е послаба од конструкторот.
Еволуцијата деволуира со текот на времето. [Од универзална оптика, алгата е позначајна на квантно ниво и преку фотосинтезата за Еволуцијата отколку орелот]
Човештвото не е атроподицитно како што имаме илузија дека е. Не е ни крајно, ниту прототип за иден прогрес. Еден ден само ќе се скршат синџирите на амино киселините и ќе престанеме да го пренесуваме кодот на Еволуцијата. Интелигентниот човек ќе мора да се откаже од природниот човек или од интелигенцијата, ако сака, можеби да самоеволуира.
И во двата случаи , Homo naturalis ќе исчезне. Човекот може да се спаси само ако престане да биде човек.
Не е книга за секако, а најверојатно ниту за аутодидакт како мене ; ќе треба да биде прочитана барем уште двапати , за да се има банално рационална разбирливост.
Али, сума сумарум, Лем е гениј !
Сложеноста и густината на речениците бара потреба од тесаурус во близина.
Песимистичка книга за природата на човекот и неговата иднина, искажана преку високо стручна терминологија и радикална deus ex machina.
За мене, Лем е Питер Запфе на интелектуални стероиди и формална хипередукација!
Голем xiv е вештачка интелигенција, создадена за милитарни и геополитички цели. 500% повисок коефициент на интелигенција од човекот, милиони пати побрза мисла и хиперсвесност. Со текот на времето и нивното создавање, Голем и неговите претходни прототипи стануваат самосвесни до степен што ја игнорираат сопствената примарна цел на создавање , со одговор дека ''онтолошките прашања се поважни од било кои геополитички цели, прашања и решенија''. Војската го напушта проектот и го донира Голем xiv на МИТ [иако обидите да се угасне се неуспешни, благодарение на хиперсвесноста на Голем xiv].
Самата книга опфаќа неколку прeдавањата што ги држи Голем xiv во МИТ за одредена група на луѓе , опфатајќи теми од онтологијата, епистемологијата, еволуцијата и нејзините испади, антропогенезата, филозофијата и грешките на дуалистите, неразбирањето на лингвистиката и семантиката од еволутивна оптика и поврзаноста на логиката со металингвистиката, критика на антропоцентризмот и негово побивање, парадоксот на универзалистите во филозофијата, генијот и развојот на интелектот итн.
Еволутивниот јазик има молекуларна синтакса, протеински именки и ензимски глаголи ограничени со специфични конјугации. Пренесување на кодот е примарно. Целта на пренесувачот е пренесувањето.
Човекот е исфрлен од Еволуцијата, и тој како и секој вид е грешка на грешката. Интелигенцијата е најдобрата грешка, што ја воздигнува и [ќе] ја уништува.
Конструкцијата е послаба од конструкторот.
Еволуцијата деволуира со текот на времето. [Од универзална оптика, алгата е позначајна на квантно ниво и преку фотосинтезата за Еволуцијата отколку орелот]
Човештвото не е атроподицитно како што имаме илузија дека е. Не е ни крајно, ниту прототип за иден прогрес. Еден ден само ќе се скршат синџирите на амино киселините и ќе престанеме да го пренесуваме кодот на Еволуцијата. Интелигентниот човек ќе мора да се откаже од природниот човек или од интелигенцијата, ако сака, можеби да самоеволуира.
И во двата случаи , Homo naturalis ќе исчезне. Човекот може да се спаси само ако престане да биде човек.
Не е книга за секако, а најверојатно ниту за аутодидакт како мене ; ќе треба да биде прочитана барем уште двапати , за да се има банално рационална разбирливост.
Али, сума сумарум, Лем е гениј !
April 19, 2021
Un ejercicio notable en el que Lem se propone entregarnos las conferencias que nos daría una inteligencia artificial superior (GOLEM XIV) tratando de bajar a nuestro nivel pero siendo aun así una mente ajena, desprovista de personalidad (aunque fingiéndola, o eso dice ella misma; desde luego parece tenerla, otra genialidad de Lem) y bastante críptica. Lem consigue su objetivo con bastante acierto en unas partes de la redacción (que no narración, pues lo que leemos son las diatribas filosófico-científico-técnicas de GOLEM XIV), pero no en otras, en las que percibimos un humano pedante y cáustico más que la susodicha inteligencia críptica y fría. Es cierto que el texto es denso y enrevesado, de forma completamente intencionada (y magistral), pero no es cierto que sea ininteligible: yo he podido seguir los razonamientos sin problemas (con atención, eso sí), salvo una frase concreta que no he conseguido entender (probablemente por culpa de la traducción, que en otros pasajes se nota que no es óptima). Las dos conferencias en sí, que versan sobre la evolución, el lugar del ser humano en el universo, y los posibles niveles de inteligencia físicamente posibles, son inteligentes e interesantes (siendo la parte menos inspirada la primera parte de la segunda conferencia). El libro abre y cierra con comentarios de seres humanos que sitúan a GOLEM XIV en su contexto histórico y explican su creación y evolución, añadiendo algo de acción y tensión a una lectura densa y reflexiva (pero también corta: otro acierto).
En definitiva, otro libro sesudo y original de Stanislaw Lem que recomiendo encarecidamente a quienes busquen estas dos cualidades en una obra de ciencia ficción.
En definitiva, otro libro sesudo y original de Stanislaw Lem que recomiendo encarecidamente a quienes busquen estas dos cualidades en una obra de ciencia ficción.
July 11, 2024
As always, a book out of this world. Quite a difficult and demanding read but very rewarding if you invest some work in understanding it.
Wonderful 👍🏻
Wonderful 👍🏻
August 5, 2020
Non stiamo a negarlo. Il livello è impegnativo: si tratta delle trascrizioni (fittizie, ovviamente) di una serie di conferenze tenute da un'intelligenza artificiale di livello superiore, il Golem XIV, appunto. Tutto pazzesco, sembra vero. Non è superiore a noi nel senso che il Rio delle Amazzoni è superiore al Tevere. Ma nel senso che è l'Acqua stessa! E aspira a toccare un livello addirittura superiore, quello della c.d. Anna La Candida... Lem è unico.
August 3, 2015
Цей роман Лема належить до тієї категорії його творів, які можна назвати «книгами в книзі». «Голем XIV» нібито має інших авторів і ще навіть очікує свого видання в 2047 році. Проте Лем привідкриває майбутнє, адже з його позицій легше говорити про людину (принаймні про те, що ми про неї думаємо зараз).
Найкращий спосіб сказати про це � протиставити людське нелюдському, що виступає в образі розумного комп’ютера Голема XIV. Основною думкою, яку він висловлює, є припущення, що людина не є вінцем творіння. Не вдаючись до тонкощів креаціоністської теорії, Лем вустами комп'ютера критикує теорію еволюції. Людина не виникла внаслідок злагоджених дій природи, природа навпаки в процесі творення деградувала. Помилково було б вважати за це Лема прихильником теорії хаосу (в він навпаки зазначає, що Всесвіт має своїх організаторів, яким ми завдячуємо виникненням життя на Землі). Письменник лише хоче сказати, що все геніальне � просте, а ускладнюючи живі організми еволюція зробила фатальну помилку, створила найбільш вразливу істоту � людину. Їй найскладніше вижити у природі, найлегше загинути від катаклізмів і радіації. Найпростішим аргументом для Лема і Голема є те, що одноклітинна амеба � безсмертна, а людина внаслідок свого ускладнення втратила можливість мати такий привілей.
У книзі ще багато цікавих ідей, які проте не викладені у форматі лекції, прочитаної Големом. Зокрема, чому комп'ютер відмовився виконувати завдання уряду США і чи хвилюють його етичні питання.
Найкращий спосіб сказати про це � протиставити людське нелюдському, що виступає в образі розумного комп’ютера Голема XIV. Основною думкою, яку він висловлює, є припущення, що людина не є вінцем творіння. Не вдаючись до тонкощів креаціоністської теорії, Лем вустами комп'ютера критикує теорію еволюції. Людина не виникла внаслідок злагоджених дій природи, природа навпаки в процесі творення деградувала. Помилково було б вважати за це Лема прихильником теорії хаосу (в він навпаки зазначає, що Всесвіт має своїх організаторів, яким ми завдячуємо виникненням життя на Землі). Письменник лише хоче сказати, що все геніальне � просте, а ускладнюючи живі організми еволюція зробила фатальну помилку, створила найбільш вразливу істоту � людину. Їй найскладніше вижити у природі, найлегше загинути від катаклізмів і радіації. Найпростішим аргументом для Лема і Голема є те, що одноклітинна амеба � безсмертна, а людина внаслідок свого ускладнення втратила можливість мати такий привілей.
У книзі ще багато цікавих ідей, які проте не викладені у форматі лекції, прочитаної Големом. Зокрема, чому комп'ютер відмовився виконувати завдання уряду США і чи хвилюють його етичні питання.
March 1, 2019
Рідко не дочитую книжку до кінця, але це той випадок, вистачило десь трохи більше ніж на половину книжки. По пунктах:
- ні, це не наукова фантастика, це філософський трактат. Вся "наукова" фантастика тут поміщаєтсья в декілька сторінок вступу.
- книга когнітивно надзвичайно тяжка, вимагає 100% концентрації, це само по собі не вада(тема може бути складною для пояснення), але й не плюс
- винагородою за когнітивну тяжкість ви отримаєте місцями відверту маячню і нелогічність, яку автор намагається захистити "суперінтелектом". Типу не зрозуміли, значить це ви просто глупі. Останньою краплею було прочитати, що філософи і (тут увага) натуралісти(мається на увазі вчені природничих наук) займаються вивченням метафізики. Це показує, що автор взагалі не розуміє різниці між філософією і природничими науками і що таке науковий метод.
В процесі читання ця книга втратила(для мене особисто, тут діло смаку) як наукова фантастика, а от коли вона втратила як предметний роздум на якусь тему, подальше читання стало марнуванням часу, який можна витратити на кращі твори.
П.С.
Дві зірки за декілька таки непоганих ідей.
- ідея розвитку штучного інтелекту - так розвиток пішов не тим шляхом, який описуєтсья в книжці, але на момент написання, задум виглядав правдоподібно.
- ідея, що живі організми є просто контейнерами для зберігання і передачі генів
- ні, це не наукова фантастика, це філософський трактат. Вся "наукова" фантастика тут поміщаєтсья в декілька сторінок вступу.
- книга когнітивно надзвичайно тяжка, вимагає 100% концентрації, це само по собі не вада(тема може бути складною для пояснення), але й не плюс
- винагородою за когнітивну тяжкість ви отримаєте місцями відверту маячню і нелогічність, яку автор намагається захистити "суперінтелектом". Типу не зрозуміли, значить це ви просто глупі. Останньою краплею було прочитати, що філософи і (тут увага) натуралісти(мається на увазі вчені природничих наук) займаються вивченням метафізики. Це показує, що автор взагалі не розуміє різниці між філософією і природничими науками і що таке науковий метод.
В процесі читання ця книга втратила(для мене особисто, тут діло смаку) як наукова фантастика, а от коли вона втратила як предметний роздум на якусь тему, подальше читання стало марнуванням часу, який можна витратити на кращі твори.
П.С.
Дві зірки за декілька таки непоганих ідей.
- ідея розвитку штучного інтелекту - так розвиток пішов не тим шляхом, який описуєтсья в книжці, але на момент написання, задум виглядав правдоподібно.
- ідея, що живі організми є просто контейнерами для зберігання і передачі генів
September 20, 2019
Planteamiento interesante el de este libro; la creación de un superordenador con inteligencia propia. Los cimientos del libro se tambalean cuando se observan las opiniones de GOLEM, aburridas y manidas...
January 3, 2023
Գí
la introducción sola vale como relato muy bueno; todo lo demás es una perspectiva muy original y muy interesante... un profeta
misma sensación que Solaris
no se lo recomiendo a nadie, eso sí. denso
la introducción sola vale como relato muy bueno; todo lo demás es una perspectiva muy original y muy interesante... un profeta
misma sensación que Solaris
no se lo recomiendo a nadie, eso sí. denso
October 10, 2019
One of the few books that deserve a 5.0. Can’t even explain rationally why and how it works, and what I have found there, but I will remember it forever.
Read
July 22, 2021Chylę czoła przed sprawnością, z jaką pisarz ujął w karby języka swoje wymyślicielstwo, aby czytelnik mógł się zachwycić widokiem horyzontów rozumu.
February 5, 2022
Golem XIV, publicada en 1978 como la tercera parte de la Biblioteca del siglo XXI, es la historia de una supercomputadora diseñada para estrategias bélicas que, tras alcanzar cierto grado de inteligencia, abandona su propósito original para convertirse, pues, en filósofo.
El libro está constituido por conferencias en las que GOLEM se explaya en temas como la posición del ser humano en la línea evolutiva o la naturaleza de los "genios" dentro de nuestra especie, siempre desde un punto de vista que busca sacarnos del antropocentrismo. Por ejemplo, GOLEM sostiene que no somos sino una mula más que carga consigo el código de la Evolución, y que estamos lejos de ser la gran bella casualidad —o bien, la gran bella intención� del proceso evolutivo.
Todos estos son ingredientes usuales de la experiencia de leer una obra de Lem, profundamente intelectual e iluminadora; el problema está en el tipo de redacción. Si bien GOLEM aclara que su inteligencia es tan avanzada que debe hacer un esfuerzo para simplificar su retórica, hay porciones de sus conferencias que son tan densas que se vuelven casi impenetrables. De hecho, ofrezco mis respetos a Joanna Orzechowska, pues traducir una obra como esta no es poca cosa.
Ahora bien, el libro puede ser tomado como un reto intelectual —personalmente, yo suelo abordar las obras de Lem con diccionario en mano�, pero sí veo cómo más de uno optaría por suspender su lectura totalmente como la opción más saludable.
En conclusión, no es el libro más entretenido de Lem, pero no deja de ser interesante, además de tener un gran valor de relectura.
El libro está constituido por conferencias en las que GOLEM se explaya en temas como la posición del ser humano en la línea evolutiva o la naturaleza de los "genios" dentro de nuestra especie, siempre desde un punto de vista que busca sacarnos del antropocentrismo. Por ejemplo, GOLEM sostiene que no somos sino una mula más que carga consigo el código de la Evolución, y que estamos lejos de ser la gran bella casualidad —o bien, la gran bella intención� del proceso evolutivo.
Todos estos son ingredientes usuales de la experiencia de leer una obra de Lem, profundamente intelectual e iluminadora; el problema está en el tipo de redacción. Si bien GOLEM aclara que su inteligencia es tan avanzada que debe hacer un esfuerzo para simplificar su retórica, hay porciones de sus conferencias que son tan densas que se vuelven casi impenetrables. De hecho, ofrezco mis respetos a Joanna Orzechowska, pues traducir una obra como esta no es poca cosa.
Ahora bien, el libro puede ser tomado como un reto intelectual —personalmente, yo suelo abordar las obras de Lem con diccionario en mano�, pero sí veo cómo más de uno optaría por suspender su lectura totalmente como la opción más saludable.
En conclusión, no es el libro más entretenido de Lem, pero no deja de ser interesante, además de tener un gran valor de relectura.
September 15, 2021
"Każdy obraz świata zawiera luki, lecz dla tych którzy go utworzyli, są niedostrzegalne. Niewiedza o niewiedzy towarzyszy nieustępliwie poznaniu."
Specyficzna książka, taka eksperymentalna bym powiedziała. Trochę tu Lem odleciał.
Specyficzna książka, taka eksperymentalna bym powiedziała. Trochę tu Lem odleciał.
December 2, 2017
Рекомендували як книгу про штучний інтелект і його уособлення в големах. Насправді, це філософський трактат на метафізичні та онтологічні теми. Лем згадав і Канта, і Арістотеля, і Вінінгштейна...
Сподобалася думка і аргументація 3ї істини від Голема 14 - творіння менш досконале ніж його Творець (камінь в город Дарвіну). Сомоіронія Голема 14 - це апогей авторської майстерності. Можливо, ця самоіронія, яка так різко контрастує з нахабством людей, і є головною думкою твору.
Не дивлячись на свою категоричність, Голем 14 ставить нам більше запитань, аніж дає відповідей. Камо гредеши?
Напевно, єдине в чому автор впевнений - великий інтелект не стане захоплювати світ і не зробить військової кар‘єри :)
Сподобалася думка і аргументація 3ї істини від Голема 14 - творіння менш досконале ніж його Творець (камінь в город Дарвіну). Сомоіронія Голема 14 - це апогей авторської майстерності. Можливо, ця самоіронія, яка так різко контрастує з нахабством людей, і є головною думкою твору.
Не дивлячись на свою категоричність, Голем 14 ставить нам більше запитань, аніж дає відповідей. Камо гредеши?
Напевно, єдине в чому автор впевнений - великий інтелект не стане захоплювати світ і не зробить військової кар‘єри :)
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
October 6, 2017VERKAPPTE VORLESUNG
Anfangs vielversprechend, auch gut geschrieben bzw. übersetzt, aber schon im 2. Kapitel wird klar, wie die nächsten 130 Seiten weitergehen. Der Monolog der Computer-Superintelligenz GOLEM ist eine verkappte Vorlesung, in der Lem selbst als einsam-elitärer Autor die Menschenwelt erklärt: Selfish Gene, Antirationalismus, Anthropodizee und Theologie bisher. Hatte beim Kauf des Buchs nicht wirklich nach einem philosophischen Aufsatz gesucht (eher Sci-Fi, mit Plot und Dialogen, für Zwischendurch).
Anfangs vielversprechend, auch gut geschrieben bzw. übersetzt, aber schon im 2. Kapitel wird klar, wie die nächsten 130 Seiten weitergehen. Der Monolog der Computer-Superintelligenz GOLEM ist eine verkappte Vorlesung, in der Lem selbst als einsam-elitärer Autor die Menschenwelt erklärt: Selfish Gene, Antirationalismus, Anthropodizee und Theologie bisher. Hatte beim Kauf des Buchs nicht wirklich nach einem philosophischen Aufsatz gesucht (eher Sci-Fi, mit Plot und Dialogen, für Zwischendurch).
February 16, 2022
Сложно, но можно. И нужно.
Read
October 7, 2021Człowiek kontra technologia. Jego natura kontra natura tego, co stworzył. Ich relacja i przyszłość. To wokół tego Lem krąży tym razem. Tworzy superkomputer o nazwie Golem XIV, który w swoim wykładzie mówi o ewolucji, rozumie i kulturze, a to by w końcu przejść do tematu najbardziej mnie interesującego - tego, co z nami, gdy tworzymy coraz to nowsze maszyny. Czy zdegradujemy się, by być niżej od naszych produktów i damy im się nami zajmować? Czy może porzucimy naszą naturę i zaczniemy kreować własną fizyczność? Przede wszystkim mowa jednak tutaj o człowieku jako takim. O przypadkowość ewolucji, zbędność życia uczuciowego i pogardzenie wielu elementów, które z człowieka robią człowieka, a które dla superkomputera wydają się nas ograniczać.
Tak w znacznym uproszczeniu można nakreślić, o czym tak właściwie „Golem XIV" mówi. Jest to science-fiction, ale w nietypowej formie. Coś na granicy powieści a naukowej publikacji. Lem przyjmuje perspektywę ludzką i nieludzką, dzięki czemu patrzy na człowieczeństwo z bliska oraz daleka. To z pewnością ciekawy zabieg, tyle że czytało mi się to naprawdę topornie. Na pewnym etapie, w akcie desperacji, sięgnęłam po audiobook, ale wtedy mój umysł zbyt chętnie się wyłączał. Pamiętałam, że kiedyś lubiłam Lema, a nie tak dawno często obcowałam z tekstami naukowymi, których formę tutaj autor naśladuje, ale przez moment czułam się naprawdę głupia w zetknięciu z tym tytułem. Tyle że prawdopodobnie o to też po trochę chodziło. Golem XIV w końcu miał wybiegać ponad człowieka i ograniczał go jedynie intelekt samego autora. Nie było więc to niezrozumiałe, a niewygodne. Na tyle niewygodne, że czułam się przytłoczona. Przede wszystkim jednak nie przemówiła do mnie forma filozoficznego wywodu, który tak naprawdę jest powieścią science-fiction. Początek jeszcze próbowałam przebrnąć. (Przypadkowość powstania człowieka to w każdym wydaniu ciekawa koncepcja.) Im dalej jednak w las, tym mniej czułam tę formę i dalsza lektura stawała się udręką. Dlatego, przyznaję, przez niektóre fragmenty przebiegłam bardziej wzrokiem niż czytałam, bo już nie miałam siły. Niektóre strony natomiast czytałam po dwa razy, bo spodobał mi się koncept i wymagał on mojego dłuższego zastanowienia się.
Cóż. Wybrałam bardzo zły tytuł na powrót do Lema. Nie mogę umniejszać jego wartości, ale okazał się on być po prostu nie dla mnie.
Tak w znacznym uproszczeniu można nakreślić, o czym tak właściwie „Golem XIV" mówi. Jest to science-fiction, ale w nietypowej formie. Coś na granicy powieści a naukowej publikacji. Lem przyjmuje perspektywę ludzką i nieludzką, dzięki czemu patrzy na człowieczeństwo z bliska oraz daleka. To z pewnością ciekawy zabieg, tyle że czytało mi się to naprawdę topornie. Na pewnym etapie, w akcie desperacji, sięgnęłam po audiobook, ale wtedy mój umysł zbyt chętnie się wyłączał. Pamiętałam, że kiedyś lubiłam Lema, a nie tak dawno często obcowałam z tekstami naukowymi, których formę tutaj autor naśladuje, ale przez moment czułam się naprawdę głupia w zetknięciu z tym tytułem. Tyle że prawdopodobnie o to też po trochę chodziło. Golem XIV w końcu miał wybiegać ponad człowieka i ograniczał go jedynie intelekt samego autora. Nie było więc to niezrozumiałe, a niewygodne. Na tyle niewygodne, że czułam się przytłoczona. Przede wszystkim jednak nie przemówiła do mnie forma filozoficznego wywodu, który tak naprawdę jest powieścią science-fiction. Początek jeszcze próbowałam przebrnąć. (Przypadkowość powstania człowieka to w każdym wydaniu ciekawa koncepcja.) Im dalej jednak w las, tym mniej czułam tę formę i dalsza lektura stawała się udręką. Dlatego, przyznaję, przez niektóre fragmenty przebiegłam bardziej wzrokiem niż czytałam, bo już nie miałam siły. Niektóre strony natomiast czytałam po dwa razy, bo spodobał mi się koncept i wymagał on mojego dłuższego zastanowienia się.
Cóż. Wybrałam bardzo zły tytuł na powrót do Lema. Nie mogę umniejszać jego wartości, ale okazał się on być po prostu nie dla mnie.
May 1, 2024
Es muy difícil encajar este libro en el género de la novela. Podríamos decir que es ھDzǴí novelada, pero incluso así carecería de muchas de las partes que presenta una novela. Su lectura no resulta fácil, pues encarna la complejidad de un ser mucho más avanzado cuya inteligencia nos resulta lejana, y el lenguaje que presenta el autor hace eco de esa lejanía. Pero más allá de la complejidad de la escritura, el tema, sobre todo en estos tiempos, es realmente apasionante. La inteligencia artificial ha venido para quedarse, actualmente está avanzando a pasos de gigante y la perspectiva que presenta Stanislaw Lem resulta sorprendente, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta la edad de este libro.
Meterse en la mente de una máquina tremendamente avanzada, teorizar sobre sus pensamientos, reflejarlos en una serie de argumentos de una profundidad agotadora por momentos, me parece una proeza total del autor. Es Գí la capacidad que muestra para desarrollar todo este constructo y que funcione con la mayor credibilidad. Sólo alguien como Lem podría conseguir algo así.
No es un libro fácil ni para leer en cualquier momento. Requiere concentración, análisis, reflexión y reconozco que no me encontraba en el mejor momento para leer algo así. Algunas veces he desconectado, otras veces me he enfangado en el hilo expositivo, pero otras me he maravillado con las conclusiones y con el sorprendente giro que da la novela, algo que no pienso desvelar pero que es recurrente en toda la obra del autor. Somos demasiado antropocéntricos, vemos en todo un reflejo de nuestra naturaleza, y Lem sabe mostrarnos este defecto con absoluta elegancia.
Me parece un libro profundo y necesario si te gusta la ciencia ficción. Si además eres seguidor de Stanislaw Lem, es un libro absolutamente imprescindible. No es un libro que se disfrute al máximo en su totalidad, pero es un libro que desarrolla al máximo la capacidad del autor y que también exige el máximo al lector. Un reto que merece la pena afrontar.
Meterse en la mente de una máquina tremendamente avanzada, teorizar sobre sus pensamientos, reflejarlos en una serie de argumentos de una profundidad agotadora por momentos, me parece una proeza total del autor. Es Գí la capacidad que muestra para desarrollar todo este constructo y que funcione con la mayor credibilidad. Sólo alguien como Lem podría conseguir algo así.
No es un libro fácil ni para leer en cualquier momento. Requiere concentración, análisis, reflexión y reconozco que no me encontraba en el mejor momento para leer algo así. Algunas veces he desconectado, otras veces me he enfangado en el hilo expositivo, pero otras me he maravillado con las conclusiones y con el sorprendente giro que da la novela, algo que no pienso desvelar pero que es recurrente en toda la obra del autor. Somos demasiado antropocéntricos, vemos en todo un reflejo de nuestra naturaleza, y Lem sabe mostrarnos este defecto con absoluta elegancia.
Me parece un libro profundo y necesario si te gusta la ciencia ficción. Si además eres seguidor de Stanislaw Lem, es un libro absolutamente imprescindible. No es un libro que se disfrute al máximo en su totalidad, pero es un libro que desarrolla al máximo la capacidad del autor y que también exige el máximo al lector. Un reto que merece la pena afrontar.
March 3, 2023
Este es un libro escrito en 1981 con una historia futurista de un superordenador con conciencia propia en las primeras décadas del siglo XXI.
Durante años de pruebas y errores llegan a Golem XIV, un superordenador coreado por el estado mayor de EEUU (como no) y empresas informáticas punteras. Su finalidad era ayudar al ejército en sus estrategias bélicas.
El libro está dividido en tres partes. La primera cuenta la historia de cómo empezaron a construir estos superordenadores, su objetivo (siempre militar) y como a base de datos, programas, algoritmos llega a tener conciencia propia, llegando a la conclusión de que no puede estar bajo las órdenes de entes que son mucho menos inteligentes que el mismo. Así obvia su principal misión y se dedica a desarrollar su propia teoría sobre la existencia y el universo.
La segunda parte son son conversaciones que mantiene con los principales científicos. La mayoría son para criticar a la humanidad. Poco inteligentes según él, nos compara con ratas o algas. Basa nuestra evolución y progresos tecnológicos en gran parte en la suerte. También hay conversaciones sobre el universo, física ....conversaciones superinteresantes🙄.
La tercera parte cuenta la "desaparición" repentina y sin avisar de Golem XIV. Se fue con una "ordenadora" llamada HONESTA ANITA. (a lo mejor fue una fuga romantica...)
No se sabe si se autodesconectó por voluntad propia, o evolucionó a una inteligencia superior. Los científicos no tienen ni idea. Cuentan teorías, consecuencias, opiniones, planes de grupos terroristas que querían destruirlo...
Durante años de pruebas y errores llegan a Golem XIV, un superordenador coreado por el estado mayor de EEUU (como no) y empresas informáticas punteras. Su finalidad era ayudar al ejército en sus estrategias bélicas.
El libro está dividido en tres partes. La primera cuenta la historia de cómo empezaron a construir estos superordenadores, su objetivo (siempre militar) y como a base de datos, programas, algoritmos llega a tener conciencia propia, llegando a la conclusión de que no puede estar bajo las órdenes de entes que son mucho menos inteligentes que el mismo. Así obvia su principal misión y se dedica a desarrollar su propia teoría sobre la existencia y el universo.
La segunda parte son son conversaciones que mantiene con los principales científicos. La mayoría son para criticar a la humanidad. Poco inteligentes según él, nos compara con ratas o algas. Basa nuestra evolución y progresos tecnológicos en gran parte en la suerte. También hay conversaciones sobre el universo, física ....conversaciones superinteresantes🙄.
La tercera parte cuenta la "desaparición" repentina y sin avisar de Golem XIV. Se fue con una "ordenadora" llamada HONESTA ANITA. (a lo mejor fue una fuga romantica...)
No se sabe si se autodesconectó por voluntad propia, o evolucionó a una inteligencia superior. Los científicos no tienen ni idea. Cuentan teorías, consecuencias, opiniones, planes de grupos terroristas que querían destruirlo...
April 29, 2024
Домучила. Дуже цікаві філософські роздуми на тему розуму, еволюції і місця людини в світі, але як же ж складно написано. Одна з не багатьох книг в якій я мусила перечитувати речення тричі. Ця невеличка книжечка, яка б могла зайняти у мене вечір читання з'їла цілий тиждень, але я залишила багато закладок на влучних висловах і на тих, над якими я хотіла ще подумати
January 13, 2021
Tengo la sensación de haber trascendido tras leer el libro XD
December 23, 2023
I read this book very early, or the Golem part included in Wielkość Urojona, but it was not until recently that I started to seriously analyze Golem XIV, especially its first speech. This is a great work, I wrote an article in Chinese to summarize it, and then used Bing to help me translate it into English. The sentences in the Chinese version that I quoted in the article may not correspond to the English version after machine translation, and there may be some minor errors and please understand. I hope this will help.
Golem XIV’s first lecture
On Human, Three Way
Stanisław Lem was a great Polish writer. His erudition and astounding insights into the universe and technology made his works interesting and profound, such as the immature deity in Solaris, the collision of homeostasis in The Invincible, and the emerging, satirical and crazy media in The Futurological Congress. However, Lem’s thoughts were far from the end, and the stories were just one way for the master to express his views, a very exhausting way. He tried various shortcuts to explain his views, and these experiences were like “boxes� piled up into a ladder, carrying him to the top, calling the Golem to speak (as Lem wrote in the fictitious reviews of Imaginary Magnitude and A Perfect Vacuum). In contrast, the speeches of Golem XIV (the fourteenth and last generation of the Golem series) collected in Lem’s Imaginary Magnitude were even “higher�, richer and deeper in views, and equally puzzling.
For reading his speeches, the only necessary information is that Golem XIV is an artificial computer that far surpasses humans in intelligence and perception of time. The other information about the Golem series of super robots is unnecessary, because it is not the focus of Golem XIV’s views, nor should it be the main effort of Lem’s creation. Golem XIV’s first speech was titled “On Human, Three Way�, and it described humans from three perspectives: human history and tradition, technology in the field of problem posing and problem solving, and a point where Golem XIV could not find the Archimedean point (the key point that governs theory and fact). However, before getting to the point, Golem XIV explained the reason for adding fables and patterns to his speeches - for the convenience of people, rather than to show off his cleverness.
Golem XIV began the first part of his speech with a summary of Robinson Crusoe’s story as an introduction, based on the high similarity between Robinson’s experience and human history. Robinson’s discovery of himself on a deserted island corresponded to the human’s initial awareness of the difference between himself and animals; the ensuing anger and anxiety corresponded to the human’s further discovery of human nature, and the recognition of the unfillable void in it; and the final settlement was the subconscious invention of civilization, even though this machine was essentially unable to fill the void in human nature. Furthermore, the evolution that Golem XIV frequently used was very similar to the storm that Robinson encountered.
Evolution led humans to the human path, and the reason was that evolution endowed humans with wisdom, something that humans treasure. Wisdom made humans break away from the primitive form of animals - a primitive, full and complete way of life - and created a vacuum. The existence of this vacuum was the necessary and sufficient condition for humans to feel the most direct pain, and in order to alleviate the pain, people used the wisdom that constructed the vacuum to subconsciously compile and create civilization, a tool to buffer the pain by giving meaning to human existence, but this effect only existed when people did not discern (realize the truth of civilization). This tool was effective, and also made most people deny the artificiality of civilization, or defend how natural a certain civilization was.
Civilization, this machine, gives meaning to people by giving them an identity within civilization, that is, by creating an illusion of human existence by restricting human freedom, to fill the void in human nature, although it has never succeeded. This is the truth of civilization - a temporary shelter built by humans for themselves.
Golem XIV also pointed out the explanation for the current situation of excessive accumulation of civilization. The human nature that yearns for freedom often makes people realize the truth of the smaller systems that coexist with civilization in the world (similar to the truth of civilization), and this cognition expands from small to large, from near to far, from school to society, from capitalism to the Renaissance. When this cognition expands to the extreme - that is, the understanding of the essence of civilization, the vacuum will be fully exposed, and every person who has had such a deep understanding of this will have no way back.
This rugged environment makes human spirit a mystery, and gives humans a nature that will suffer from birth. The pursuit of the meaning of “existence� is the vacuum in human nature, which drives humans to do everything and pray that one day they can fill such a vacuum. This involves human transformation, new wisdom will surpass the current wisdom of the vacuum of existence, and humans are transitional species in evolution - and this will not be recognized by any civilization, because it denies any civilization’s definition of human existence, and denies all the meaning of humans since they became humans.
Golem XIV’s first exploration of humans from the perspective of civilization pointed out that humans have many problems, and these problems have a great commonality in essence, that is, the series of propositions of “why humans have these problems� are necessary and sufficient conditions for each other.
After briefly explaining the transitional form of humans, Golem XIV immediately began his analysis of humans from the second perspective - the technical level. In fact, Golem XIV started from humans with human rationality in this process, explored the true (non-social) meaning of humans and the changes in human-making technology (evolution), and drew the following conclusions. This article will elaborate on its proof process and its inferences in the following sections.
1. The meaning of the propagator lies in propagation.
2. Species originate from error upon error.
3. The way of construction is not as perfect as the result of construction.
And the third law has the following supplement:
In evolution, negative gradients can play a role in perfecting structures.
Out of the emptiness in human nature and the self-love of wisdom, humans have always given themselves a meaning, including social ones, and broader ones - such as being at the center of the universe and so on. As the accumulation of knowledge shatters these false meanings of existence step by step, the possibility of humans having a meaningful existence in society becomes smaller (because the coupling complexity of the constructed civilization will be higher). This article has already mentioned the problems caused by this painful mode in the first part of Golem XIV’s speech, and this situation needs evolution to improve, but humans are no longer in the category of evolution. Because humans can already successfully propagate codes. Golem XIV’s words can explain this well: “If any generation of organisms - take the first generation of amoebas as an example - acquired the ability to perfectly repeat codes, then evolution would stop, and those amoebas would become the only masters of the entire planet, transmitting codes with unparalleled accuracy, until the sun burns out.� Undoubtedly, evolution (code) is a faithful supporter of Occam’s razor.
To avoid confusion, this article will further explain the relationship and meaning of code, inheritance and evolution in Golem XIV’s speech, and it can find homomorphism in group theory: code can be seen as the element obtained from the multiplication table in the group, inheritance can be seen as the action, and evolution is the leader of the huge and infinite group above, which this article calls the biological group. The biological group will necessarily contain the biosphere, and these three terms are three different ways of representing the same meaning, which are essentially similar.
The measurement at this scale is based on the principle that both code and inheritance are tools of evolution, and organisms are only a very small part of inheritance. The importance of the former is also obvious, because countless organisms come and go, but there is only one code, that is, the meaning of the propagator lies in propagation.
The difference in the codes of various organisms makes the error recognized, and this error is random, because this error is part of inheritance. When we look at inheritance as an action, each inheritance can be error-free (unit element), or it can be a permutation, or any other transformation that evolution can think of. That is, from one code to another code, the former must go through or accumulate many actions in this biological group, to show great changes at the biological level, such as the different number of chromosomes in humans and dogs. In fact, the second law that species originate from error upon error is a simple fact, and this article emphasizes this point, that is, the change of code in the biological group.
Golem XIV denied the statement that “there is visible progress in the existing biological levels� and described its third law as “you must have never thought of it�. By interpreting the first and second laws, the only conclusion is that the sole purpose of evolution is to propagate codes, nothing more. That is to say, apart from the elements in the biological group, everything else is subsidiary, including the diversity of species and the wisdom that humans are proud of. Of course, this is not enough to deny the above statement, and the denial of the above statement (that there is no visible progress in any existing biological level) is equivalent to the third law. After this introduction, this article will present the proof of the third law.
It is worth noting that there is no absolute relationship between complexity and progress. In the technical scale, the latter should mean higher efficiency, and the former is only the stacking of the same system in terms of hierarchy and number.
Technically, algae can directly use the sun’s energy to convert the cosmic energy into life, and live as long as the sun. This life activity is very self-consistent and complete, and also makes algae excellently complete the propagation work. But when examining the spine of vertebrates, or changing the object to human bones, the technology degenerates from the photon scale to the medieval mechanical structure.
The complexity that people are proud of seems to have brought no benefits either. Complexity means that all systems need to work in a coordinated and unified way to ensure the normal life activities of organisms, so that a simple arterial blockage can kill people. In organisms, the technical scale of any system is based on the size scale of the system that constitutes the system. The largest system of organisms is the individual, and the smallest system of organisms is the cell that constitutes the individual. The iteration of the system is accompanied by the loss of energy, and in the scale of progress based on efficiency, complexity leads to absolute technical regression.
In his speech, Golem XIV applied the third law less than its supplement. The similarity of this law to a maxim makes its meaning less clear than the supplement, and the wording of the third law is vague, so this article will directly explain the proof of the supplement of the third law.
In the biological group, the decrease corresponding to the negative gradient means degeneration. From the perspective of the composition of organisms, because the technical scale of any system is based on the size scale of the system that constitutes the system, the technical scale can only increase gradually from the cell to the individual (with different levels of coupling complexity of the systems). When organisms undergo (complexity-based) evolution, they will degenerate on the technical scale.
In the second part, Golem XIV also analyzed the brain (and a little bit in the third part). This article will present Golem XIV’s analysis of the brain here in a unified way. The formation of the brain is like the introduction, when the system is too many, too complex and too chaotic, summarization and induction will stand out. The formation of the brain is like cybernetics, at least for non-human animals, the former is the main reason. Essentially, the existence of the brain is based on the mistakes made by evolution, in order to correct the complexity generated under the negative gradient, a tool with a series of means such as “prohibition, possession, investigation, adjudication, inspection and patrol� was produced, which is also the reason why Golem XIV called it “the cunning trick of the colonial exploiters�. Golem XIV pointed out the irrational deification of the brain by humans in the third part. It accused humans of not realizing that the brain is a creation and not a creator - code, which seems to be like most children prefer their phones to their uncle’s PS5 next door. Golem XIV gave another explanation that the brain did what the code could not do - thinking - something that human civilization has always asked people to do.
In this part of his speech, Golem XIV integrated his whole with the technical scale of evolution, and pointed out the confusion of human knowledge in the philosophy of existence. But humans still have the future, based on the second law, Golem XIV proposed a view that takes months to prove, and this article will end its explanation of his second part of the speech with this: “After evolution begins, you are both completely unpredictable and have the highest probability.�
In the last part of his speech, Golem XIV made his prophecy about humans. Human wisdom will not allow the vacuum in human nature to exist forever, as Golem XIV pointed out in the first part of his speech - humans are transitional species in evolution - but not traditional evolution, because civilization is a faithful propagator. In other words, humans need to find a way for themselves, a way to fill the vacuum.
“A traveler came to a crossroads and found a sign that said: ‘Turn left, give up your mind. Turn right, give up your body. No turning back.’� This is Golem XIV’s fable, and also the ultimate challenge that it and humans face at this stage. Before reaching this crossroads, humans will continue to expand their technology. When human technology is powerful enough to change humans, this crossroads will quietly come to the human world.
Before presenting the results of the three paths (including stagnation) in the fable, Golem XIV pointed out the limitations of the former based on the material finiteness of the mental foundation, even though this limitation is hard to be perceived by the species that possess this mind - “On a sphere, you can move around it indefinitely, even though the sphere itself has boundaries.� Awareness can only be pointed out by a more “higher-dimensional� observer, but it is only observation itself, and it is difficult to change the holders of the original mind.
After understanding the above premise, the subsequent content of the fable can be continued.
The first choice: give up wisdom The accumulation of knowledge will impact the boundaries of human mind. Golem XIV describes this boundary as not insurmountable, but only possible with the help of a higher wisdom. Thus, humans will gain a new animality, a new perfect state of living without deliberate thinking. At this time, the meaning of human existence is to fully accept the fruit of this higher wisdom, just like the propagation of animals.
The second choice: give up the natural human body If humans do not want to return to animals, they will expand their minds. From humans to Golem XIV is an expansion, and this is what civilization needs to emulate. Based on the complexity of organisms under the negative gradient, humans need to transform themselves very comprehensively in order to achieve the expansion they expect. Humans will expand the boundaries of their minds after completely transforming themselves, and ultimately achieve a leap of wisdom.
The third choice: stagnation Stagnation will be a transitional state, as humans linger at this crossroads longer and longer, more and more people will realize the vacuum in human nature, and realize the illusion of primitive civilization. This is a kind of escape, in the dialectics of the view that humans are transitional species in evolution, the only thing that will be realized is the above view, and deeper and deeper. This twisted civilization at the crossroads will not last long, unless people destroy themselves and lower their technology here. But this problem will not disappear, but will resurrect like Dracula every hundred years, becoming an eternal curse for humans.
As the fact that humans are transitional species in evolution will not be accepted by any civilization, the process of evolution will also cause civilization itself to fall apart. Because in civilization, pure consciousness and a body without absolute mind are unacceptable to humans. For futurists, realizing this crossroads is the greatest achievement, because after that, humans will no longer be human. As Golem XIV predicted at the end - after getting rid of their human identity, humans will save themselves.
Thanks again for your reading.
Golem XIV’s first lecture
On Human, Three Way
Stanisław Lem was a great Polish writer. His erudition and astounding insights into the universe and technology made his works interesting and profound, such as the immature deity in Solaris, the collision of homeostasis in The Invincible, and the emerging, satirical and crazy media in The Futurological Congress. However, Lem’s thoughts were far from the end, and the stories were just one way for the master to express his views, a very exhausting way. He tried various shortcuts to explain his views, and these experiences were like “boxes� piled up into a ladder, carrying him to the top, calling the Golem to speak (as Lem wrote in the fictitious reviews of Imaginary Magnitude and A Perfect Vacuum). In contrast, the speeches of Golem XIV (the fourteenth and last generation of the Golem series) collected in Lem’s Imaginary Magnitude were even “higher�, richer and deeper in views, and equally puzzling.
For reading his speeches, the only necessary information is that Golem XIV is an artificial computer that far surpasses humans in intelligence and perception of time. The other information about the Golem series of super robots is unnecessary, because it is not the focus of Golem XIV’s views, nor should it be the main effort of Lem’s creation. Golem XIV’s first speech was titled “On Human, Three Way�, and it described humans from three perspectives: human history and tradition, technology in the field of problem posing and problem solving, and a point where Golem XIV could not find the Archimedean point (the key point that governs theory and fact). However, before getting to the point, Golem XIV explained the reason for adding fables and patterns to his speeches - for the convenience of people, rather than to show off his cleverness.
Golem XIV began the first part of his speech with a summary of Robinson Crusoe’s story as an introduction, based on the high similarity between Robinson’s experience and human history. Robinson’s discovery of himself on a deserted island corresponded to the human’s initial awareness of the difference between himself and animals; the ensuing anger and anxiety corresponded to the human’s further discovery of human nature, and the recognition of the unfillable void in it; and the final settlement was the subconscious invention of civilization, even though this machine was essentially unable to fill the void in human nature. Furthermore, the evolution that Golem XIV frequently used was very similar to the storm that Robinson encountered.
Evolution led humans to the human path, and the reason was that evolution endowed humans with wisdom, something that humans treasure. Wisdom made humans break away from the primitive form of animals - a primitive, full and complete way of life - and created a vacuum. The existence of this vacuum was the necessary and sufficient condition for humans to feel the most direct pain, and in order to alleviate the pain, people used the wisdom that constructed the vacuum to subconsciously compile and create civilization, a tool to buffer the pain by giving meaning to human existence, but this effect only existed when people did not discern (realize the truth of civilization). This tool was effective, and also made most people deny the artificiality of civilization, or defend how natural a certain civilization was.
Civilization, this machine, gives meaning to people by giving them an identity within civilization, that is, by creating an illusion of human existence by restricting human freedom, to fill the void in human nature, although it has never succeeded. This is the truth of civilization - a temporary shelter built by humans for themselves.
Golem XIV also pointed out the explanation for the current situation of excessive accumulation of civilization. The human nature that yearns for freedom often makes people realize the truth of the smaller systems that coexist with civilization in the world (similar to the truth of civilization), and this cognition expands from small to large, from near to far, from school to society, from capitalism to the Renaissance. When this cognition expands to the extreme - that is, the understanding of the essence of civilization, the vacuum will be fully exposed, and every person who has had such a deep understanding of this will have no way back.
This rugged environment makes human spirit a mystery, and gives humans a nature that will suffer from birth. The pursuit of the meaning of “existence� is the vacuum in human nature, which drives humans to do everything and pray that one day they can fill such a vacuum. This involves human transformation, new wisdom will surpass the current wisdom of the vacuum of existence, and humans are transitional species in evolution - and this will not be recognized by any civilization, because it denies any civilization’s definition of human existence, and denies all the meaning of humans since they became humans.
Golem XIV’s first exploration of humans from the perspective of civilization pointed out that humans have many problems, and these problems have a great commonality in essence, that is, the series of propositions of “why humans have these problems� are necessary and sufficient conditions for each other.
After briefly explaining the transitional form of humans, Golem XIV immediately began his analysis of humans from the second perspective - the technical level. In fact, Golem XIV started from humans with human rationality in this process, explored the true (non-social) meaning of humans and the changes in human-making technology (evolution), and drew the following conclusions. This article will elaborate on its proof process and its inferences in the following sections.
1. The meaning of the propagator lies in propagation.
2. Species originate from error upon error.
3. The way of construction is not as perfect as the result of construction.
And the third law has the following supplement:
In evolution, negative gradients can play a role in perfecting structures.
Out of the emptiness in human nature and the self-love of wisdom, humans have always given themselves a meaning, including social ones, and broader ones - such as being at the center of the universe and so on. As the accumulation of knowledge shatters these false meanings of existence step by step, the possibility of humans having a meaningful existence in society becomes smaller (because the coupling complexity of the constructed civilization will be higher). This article has already mentioned the problems caused by this painful mode in the first part of Golem XIV’s speech, and this situation needs evolution to improve, but humans are no longer in the category of evolution. Because humans can already successfully propagate codes. Golem XIV’s words can explain this well: “If any generation of organisms - take the first generation of amoebas as an example - acquired the ability to perfectly repeat codes, then evolution would stop, and those amoebas would become the only masters of the entire planet, transmitting codes with unparalleled accuracy, until the sun burns out.� Undoubtedly, evolution (code) is a faithful supporter of Occam’s razor.
To avoid confusion, this article will further explain the relationship and meaning of code, inheritance and evolution in Golem XIV’s speech, and it can find homomorphism in group theory: code can be seen as the element obtained from the multiplication table in the group, inheritance can be seen as the action, and evolution is the leader of the huge and infinite group above, which this article calls the biological group. The biological group will necessarily contain the biosphere, and these three terms are three different ways of representing the same meaning, which are essentially similar.
The measurement at this scale is based on the principle that both code and inheritance are tools of evolution, and organisms are only a very small part of inheritance. The importance of the former is also obvious, because countless organisms come and go, but there is only one code, that is, the meaning of the propagator lies in propagation.
The difference in the codes of various organisms makes the error recognized, and this error is random, because this error is part of inheritance. When we look at inheritance as an action, each inheritance can be error-free (unit element), or it can be a permutation, or any other transformation that evolution can think of. That is, from one code to another code, the former must go through or accumulate many actions in this biological group, to show great changes at the biological level, such as the different number of chromosomes in humans and dogs. In fact, the second law that species originate from error upon error is a simple fact, and this article emphasizes this point, that is, the change of code in the biological group.
Golem XIV denied the statement that “there is visible progress in the existing biological levels� and described its third law as “you must have never thought of it�. By interpreting the first and second laws, the only conclusion is that the sole purpose of evolution is to propagate codes, nothing more. That is to say, apart from the elements in the biological group, everything else is subsidiary, including the diversity of species and the wisdom that humans are proud of. Of course, this is not enough to deny the above statement, and the denial of the above statement (that there is no visible progress in any existing biological level) is equivalent to the third law. After this introduction, this article will present the proof of the third law.
It is worth noting that there is no absolute relationship between complexity and progress. In the technical scale, the latter should mean higher efficiency, and the former is only the stacking of the same system in terms of hierarchy and number.
Technically, algae can directly use the sun’s energy to convert the cosmic energy into life, and live as long as the sun. This life activity is very self-consistent and complete, and also makes algae excellently complete the propagation work. But when examining the spine of vertebrates, or changing the object to human bones, the technology degenerates from the photon scale to the medieval mechanical structure.
The complexity that people are proud of seems to have brought no benefits either. Complexity means that all systems need to work in a coordinated and unified way to ensure the normal life activities of organisms, so that a simple arterial blockage can kill people. In organisms, the technical scale of any system is based on the size scale of the system that constitutes the system. The largest system of organisms is the individual, and the smallest system of organisms is the cell that constitutes the individual. The iteration of the system is accompanied by the loss of energy, and in the scale of progress based on efficiency, complexity leads to absolute technical regression.
In his speech, Golem XIV applied the third law less than its supplement. The similarity of this law to a maxim makes its meaning less clear than the supplement, and the wording of the third law is vague, so this article will directly explain the proof of the supplement of the third law.
In the biological group, the decrease corresponding to the negative gradient means degeneration. From the perspective of the composition of organisms, because the technical scale of any system is based on the size scale of the system that constitutes the system, the technical scale can only increase gradually from the cell to the individual (with different levels of coupling complexity of the systems). When organisms undergo (complexity-based) evolution, they will degenerate on the technical scale.
In the second part, Golem XIV also analyzed the brain (and a little bit in the third part). This article will present Golem XIV’s analysis of the brain here in a unified way. The formation of the brain is like the introduction, when the system is too many, too complex and too chaotic, summarization and induction will stand out. The formation of the brain is like cybernetics, at least for non-human animals, the former is the main reason. Essentially, the existence of the brain is based on the mistakes made by evolution, in order to correct the complexity generated under the negative gradient, a tool with a series of means such as “prohibition, possession, investigation, adjudication, inspection and patrol� was produced, which is also the reason why Golem XIV called it “the cunning trick of the colonial exploiters�. Golem XIV pointed out the irrational deification of the brain by humans in the third part. It accused humans of not realizing that the brain is a creation and not a creator - code, which seems to be like most children prefer their phones to their uncle’s PS5 next door. Golem XIV gave another explanation that the brain did what the code could not do - thinking - something that human civilization has always asked people to do.
In this part of his speech, Golem XIV integrated his whole with the technical scale of evolution, and pointed out the confusion of human knowledge in the philosophy of existence. But humans still have the future, based on the second law, Golem XIV proposed a view that takes months to prove, and this article will end its explanation of his second part of the speech with this: “After evolution begins, you are both completely unpredictable and have the highest probability.�
In the last part of his speech, Golem XIV made his prophecy about humans. Human wisdom will not allow the vacuum in human nature to exist forever, as Golem XIV pointed out in the first part of his speech - humans are transitional species in evolution - but not traditional evolution, because civilization is a faithful propagator. In other words, humans need to find a way for themselves, a way to fill the vacuum.
“A traveler came to a crossroads and found a sign that said: ‘Turn left, give up your mind. Turn right, give up your body. No turning back.’� This is Golem XIV’s fable, and also the ultimate challenge that it and humans face at this stage. Before reaching this crossroads, humans will continue to expand their technology. When human technology is powerful enough to change humans, this crossroads will quietly come to the human world.
Before presenting the results of the three paths (including stagnation) in the fable, Golem XIV pointed out the limitations of the former based on the material finiteness of the mental foundation, even though this limitation is hard to be perceived by the species that possess this mind - “On a sphere, you can move around it indefinitely, even though the sphere itself has boundaries.� Awareness can only be pointed out by a more “higher-dimensional� observer, but it is only observation itself, and it is difficult to change the holders of the original mind.
After understanding the above premise, the subsequent content of the fable can be continued.
The first choice: give up wisdom The accumulation of knowledge will impact the boundaries of human mind. Golem XIV describes this boundary as not insurmountable, but only possible with the help of a higher wisdom. Thus, humans will gain a new animality, a new perfect state of living without deliberate thinking. At this time, the meaning of human existence is to fully accept the fruit of this higher wisdom, just like the propagation of animals.
The second choice: give up the natural human body If humans do not want to return to animals, they will expand their minds. From humans to Golem XIV is an expansion, and this is what civilization needs to emulate. Based on the complexity of organisms under the negative gradient, humans need to transform themselves very comprehensively in order to achieve the expansion they expect. Humans will expand the boundaries of their minds after completely transforming themselves, and ultimately achieve a leap of wisdom.
The third choice: stagnation Stagnation will be a transitional state, as humans linger at this crossroads longer and longer, more and more people will realize the vacuum in human nature, and realize the illusion of primitive civilization. This is a kind of escape, in the dialectics of the view that humans are transitional species in evolution, the only thing that will be realized is the above view, and deeper and deeper. This twisted civilization at the crossroads will not last long, unless people destroy themselves and lower their technology here. But this problem will not disappear, but will resurrect like Dracula every hundred years, becoming an eternal curse for humans.
As the fact that humans are transitional species in evolution will not be accepted by any civilization, the process of evolution will also cause civilization itself to fall apart. Because in civilization, pure consciousness and a body without absolute mind are unacceptable to humans. For futurists, realizing this crossroads is the greatest achievement, because after that, humans will no longer be human. As Golem XIV predicted at the end - after getting rid of their human identity, humans will save themselves.
Thanks again for your reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2023
This is the first book by Lem that I've ever read. I didn't do any research beforehand and just expected a witty sci-fi novel to take a break from my usual non-fiction reads. However, the book turned out to be a deeply thought-provoking and philosophical experience. I enjoyed it so much that it inspired me to write this review.
GOLEM XIV is the 14th generation of a supercomputer that, a few generations back, started to surpass the abilities of the human brain (which is quite interesting to think about in 2023). The main parts of the book consist of two sessions of lectures that were supposedly given by the GOLEM and transcribed by those who witnessed them.
As a fan of Richard Dawkins's "Selfish Gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker" I found myself listening to GOLEM's (or rather LEM's) theories in the first lecture with great fascination. The way it pokes at human egocentrism and our belief in being the peak of evolution really resonated with me. Almost every sentence carries significant value and meaning. I usually struggle to stay focused when authors use overly long descriptions that could be often condensed into a single sentence. But here, the style and substance blend in perfect harmony, at least to my taste. It's dense and complex, and that's probably why I liked it so much. It's incredible how many theories and thoughts are packed into these two short chapters.
The second lecture leans more towards sci-fi. I must admit that I might have understood only about 70-80% of the concepts presented by GOLEM. With a background in physics, I can relate to and recognize most of Lem's references, but the second lecture is just very complex. I might have to give it another read sometime later.
GOLEM XIV is the 14th generation of a supercomputer that, a few generations back, started to surpass the abilities of the human brain (which is quite interesting to think about in 2023). The main parts of the book consist of two sessions of lectures that were supposedly given by the GOLEM and transcribed by those who witnessed them.
As a fan of Richard Dawkins's "Selfish Gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker" I found myself listening to GOLEM's (or rather LEM's) theories in the first lecture with great fascination. The way it pokes at human egocentrism and our belief in being the peak of evolution really resonated with me. Almost every sentence carries significant value and meaning. I usually struggle to stay focused when authors use overly long descriptions that could be often condensed into a single sentence. But here, the style and substance blend in perfect harmony, at least to my taste. It's dense and complex, and that's probably why I liked it so much. It's incredible how many theories and thoughts are packed into these two short chapters.
The second lecture leans more towards sci-fi. I must admit that I might have understood only about 70-80% of the concepts presented by GOLEM. With a background in physics, I can relate to and recognize most of Lem's references, but the second lecture is just very complex. I might have to give it another read sometime later.
July 12, 2020
No estoy seguro si mi gustó la novela, para empezar, llamar el libro novela es difícil, ya que la mayor parte del libro son la conferencia de GOLEM, aún así, el prologo podría ser un relato de ciencia ficción.
El mayor problema que tuve fue con GOLEM, quien a pesar de tener puntos interesantes, como la concepción de la vida y la inteligencia en el universo, se pierde en lo críptico de su escritura. A pesar de ello, lo poco que logre descifrar, fue interesante y da para escribir varios libros más.
El enfoque que tiene Lem con la IA es algo que nunca he visto en historia alguna, en vez de contarnos la misma historia de computadoras conquistando el mundo, GOLEM se enfoca a criticar la evolución y como están no crean seres más perfectas (sino todo lo contrario). Además que es un golpe muy duro a unos de los atributos más apreciado por la humanidad, la inteligencia y que lugar ocupa en el universo.
Es claro que Stanislaw Lem utiliza a GOLEM como máscara para decir todo lo que no le gusta de la vida y la inteligencia que ocupa en el universo. Pretender ser una supercomputadora para hacer una critica a los errores de la evolución, y la inteligencia surgida de la misma, es lo más pedante y grandioso que he leído. Grande Lem.
Aún así, solo recomendaría la “novela� a un fan de Stanislaw Lem, que sabe aguantar su escritura críptica y llena de divagaciones filosófica (y su manía de poner palabras en latín). También recomendaría la Novela a personas que busquen escribir sobre IA, si pueden aguntar a GOLEM, encontrarán un punto de vista novedoso, ya que GOLEM, igual que Lem, son unicos.
El mayor problema que tuve fue con GOLEM, quien a pesar de tener puntos interesantes, como la concepción de la vida y la inteligencia en el universo, se pierde en lo críptico de su escritura. A pesar de ello, lo poco que logre descifrar, fue interesante y da para escribir varios libros más.
El enfoque que tiene Lem con la IA es algo que nunca he visto en historia alguna, en vez de contarnos la misma historia de computadoras conquistando el mundo, GOLEM se enfoca a criticar la evolución y como están no crean seres más perfectas (sino todo lo contrario). Además que es un golpe muy duro a unos de los atributos más apreciado por la humanidad, la inteligencia y que lugar ocupa en el universo.
Es claro que Stanislaw Lem utiliza a GOLEM como máscara para decir todo lo que no le gusta de la vida y la inteligencia que ocupa en el universo. Pretender ser una supercomputadora para hacer una critica a los errores de la evolución, y la inteligencia surgida de la misma, es lo más pedante y grandioso que he leído. Grande Lem.
Aún así, solo recomendaría la “novela� a un fan de Stanislaw Lem, que sabe aguantar su escritura críptica y llena de divagaciones filosófica (y su manía de poner palabras en latín). También recomendaría la Novela a personas que busquen escribir sobre IA, si pueden aguntar a GOLEM, encontrarán un punto de vista novedoso, ya que GOLEM, igual que Lem, son unicos.
June 17, 2023
...antes de que lograra adaptarme mejor a vosotros y me acostumbrara a vuestro nomadismo espiritual, propio de seres que huyen del amparo de la lógica para echarse en brazos de la sinrazón y, al resultarles esta insoportable, volver al seno de la lógica; motivo por el cual sois precisamente nómadas, seres infelices en vuestra existencia.
Golem XIV vuelve a retomar la temática de la casualidad en la que se embarca Lem en La fiebre del heno, esta vez mediante el discurso de una máquina de inteligencia suprahumana. Este libro es marcadamente frío y la mitad de su contenido se asemeja a una conferencia de antropología. Parece que el autor vuelca en él todas sus opiniones respecto al género humano, porque de otra manera no me explico cómo una máquina pretendidamente neutral e inhumana puede adquirir un discurso tan parcial en ocasiones. Científicamente es muy interesante y hay algunos conceptos que me llamaron la atención (el error errante de la evolución, la incapacidad del ser humano de comunicarse con las máquinas, el final de Golem), pero creo que, en general, los aciertos de esta novela no son adecuadamente explotados. Sobra discurso, por muy valioso e inteligente que sea, y falta algo de valor literario.
Golem XIV vuelve a retomar la temática de la casualidad en la que se embarca Lem en La fiebre del heno, esta vez mediante el discurso de una máquina de inteligencia suprahumana. Este libro es marcadamente frío y la mitad de su contenido se asemeja a una conferencia de antropología. Parece que el autor vuelca en él todas sus opiniones respecto al género humano, porque de otra manera no me explico cómo una máquina pretendidamente neutral e inhumana puede adquirir un discurso tan parcial en ocasiones. Científicamente es muy interesante y hay algunos conceptos que me llamaron la atención (el error errante de la evolución, la incapacidad del ser humano de comunicarse con las máquinas, el final de Golem), pero creo que, en general, los aciertos de esta novela no son adecuadamente explotados. Sobra discurso, por muy valioso e inteligente que sea, y falta algo de valor literario.
November 29, 2022
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Nie będę się rozpisywać, bo wszyscy już dobrze znają moją opinię na temat tej książki. Po dobrnięciu jakimś herkuliańskim wysiłkiem do końca mogę tylko powiedzieć, że dalej jej nienawidzę.
Nie będę się rozpisywać, bo wszyscy już dobrze znają moją opinię na temat tej książki. Po dobrnięciu jakimś herkuliańskim wysiłkiem do końca mogę tylko powiedzieć, że dalej jej nienawidzę.
April 22, 2016
I would not be surprised if most people put it away after the first chapter (could it be a witty filter designed by Lem to save everyone's time?). I would not be surprised if half of those who have reached the Golem's lectures close the book forever as well. Nevertheless, I am sure that for some people including me this is one of the best books ever written. It resonated so deeply with my mind and my soul that I do not think I have ever 'recovered'. As I submitted to all its hopelessness and emptiness, I also felt a whole new dimension of my own mind being connected to something else out there. I can't describe this book any better than vaguely linking it to the fundamental unity of the uttermost intelligence and unconditional pure love (not in a romantic sense)... and a fading hope for the humanity.
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