Between Literature and Science: Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge PDF
Preview Between Literature and Science: Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge
liverpool.fm Page iii Tuesday, July 11, 2000 10:58 AM Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge Peter Swirski Liverpool University Press liverpool.fm Page iv Tuesday, July 11, 2000 10:58 AM ©McGill-Queen’s University Press --- (cloth) --- (paper) Legal deposit second quarter Bibliothèque nationale du Québec Printed in Canada on acid-free paper Published simultaneously in the European Union by Liverpool University Press This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. McGill-Queen’s University Press acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program () for its activities. We also acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A British Library CIP record is available This book was typeset by Caractéra inc. in / Minion. 93412_90.fm Page i Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:03 AM Between Literature and Science Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge In Between Literature and Science Peter Swirski examines the true intellectual scope of Edgar Allan Poe and Stanislaw Lem. Using a genuinely interdisci- plinary approach he shows that they propose far-reaching hypotheses in aesthetics, epistemology, cognitive science, philosophy of science, literary studies, and pragmatics as well as in cosmology, artificial intelligence, and futurology. Swirski argues that previous studies of their science fiction works, in neglecting these broader philosophical and scientific ambitions, have misrepresented Poe and Lem’s artistic achievements. Through close analysis of Eureka and The Purloined Letter, Swirski evalu- ates Poe’s epistemological theses in the light of contemporary philosophy of science and presents literary interpretation as a cooperative game played by the author and reader, thereby illuminating how we read fiction. The analysis of Poe’s little-studied Eureka provides the basis for his discussion of Lem’s critique of scientific reductionism and futurological forecasts. Drawing on his own interviews with Lem as well as analysis of his works, Swirski con- siders the author’s scenarios involving computers capable of creative acts and discusses their socio-cultural implications. His analysis leads to bold argu- ments about the nature of literature and its relation to a broad range of other disciplines. is a lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Toronto. 93412_90.fm Page ii Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:03 AM 93412_90.fm Page iii Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:03 AM Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge Peter Swirski McGill-Queen’s University Press Montreal & Kingston · London · Ithaca 93412_90.fm Page iv Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:03 AM ©McGill-Queen’s University Press --- (cloth) --- (paper) Legal deposit second quarter Bibliothèque nationale du Québec Printed in Canada on acid-free paper This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. McGill-Queen’s University Press acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program () for its activities. We also acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Swirski, Peter, – Between literature and science: Poe and Lem Includes bibliographical references and index. --- (bound). – --- (pbk.) . Poe, Edgar Allan, – – Criticism and interpretation. . Lem, Stanislaw, – – Criticism and interpretations. . Literature and science. . Title. . ’. -- Typeset in Minion / by Caractéra inc., Quebec City 93412_90b.fm Page v Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:04 AM This book is dedicated to Gregory, Irini, Ginette, Paisley, Sarah, Peter, Chris, Craig, Jeff, Jon, Phyllis, Philip, Jerry, Brad, Raine, Greig, and others 93412_90b.fm Page vi Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:04 AM 93412_91.fm Page vii Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:04 AM Contents Introduction ix The Pragmatic Side of Aesthetics Towards a New Epistemology An Essay in Cosmology There Is Science in My Philosophy The Future History of Biterature Of Machines and Men Conclusion: No Discipline Is an Island Notes Bibliography Index 93412_91.fm Page viii Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:04 AM
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