Zwierciadło człowieczeństwa: wizje sztucznej inteligencji w prozie Stanisława Lema i Philipa K. Dicka
The Mirror of Humanity: The Visions of Artificial Intelligence in the Works of Stanisław Lem and Philip K. Dick

Summary/Abstract: This paper concentrates on the visions of artificial intelligence depicted by two outstanding 20thcentury writers: Philip K. Dick and Stanisław Lem. Despite the world of differences dividing both writers concerning creative temperament, writing technique, ways of depicting the world, they both shared a common belief that the technology that will give the defining shift and shape over the 21st century will be artificial intelligence. In the context of substantially growing significance and the increasing multiplicity of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and algorithms focused on interfering with human life (weak AI, unaware of its existence), the visions of Philip K. Dick and Stanisław Lem not only score disturbingly well on topicality but also seem extremely interesting from the point of view of philosophy and ethics. Of course, the works of Lem and Dick do not claim any plausible form of scientific realism, even though both writers wrote their books – at least partially – based on the available scientific knowledge). Still, they offer very interesting perspectives. The anthropological and allegorical aspects in Lem and Dick are particularly noteworthy – artificial intelligences are shown as a kind of anthropological mirror that reflects (perhaps a slightly distorted) image of Homo sapiens. But maybe it is the other way around? Maybe it is human beings who are the mirror that reflects artificial intelligence – the mirror that duplicates and multiplies human shortcomings and virtues.

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