Summa technologiae
by Stanisław Lem, Joanna Zylinska, Hanna Rudak, Giovanni Balletta · first published 1964
54% recommend46% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Lem's 1960s essay treats technology as evolution, examining what drives technological development and sketching possible futures rather than predicting gadgets. Suits readers who want dense, wide-ranging philosophy.
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If you want an example of clear thinking about the future, I highly recommend reading Summa Technologiae by Stanislaw Lem. Instead of predicting low-level tech advances he speaks about what drives technology development in general and drafts several possible trajectories for the future. I've only read it…
on “Reality vs. Kurzweil’s expectations” ↗I can't answer you directly but perhaps this helps too. I recently finished Summa Technologiae from Stanislaw Lem which does investigate a lot of these questions in many of its chapters. I highly recommend it as it is a detailed, vivid exploration written by a very wise person so much so that…
on “Biology Will Be the Next Great Computing Platform” ↗Oh man, Asimov was so bad with futuristic ideas. If you'd like to read good thoughts about future, go for Stanislaw Lem (Summa Technologiae, Golem XIV)
on “The Last Question (1956)” ↗Among the most important books for me was Summa technologiae by Stanislaw Lem, oldie but (still) a goldie: Despite its age and a number of inaccuracies in specific domains (e.g., mathematics, biology, sociology), the book has lost no momentum in the past years.…
on “Ask HN: Books that teach you to think” ↗For those interested in the "science/technology as evolution" perspective, have a read of Summa Technologiae, by renowned 20th-century science fiction author Stanislaw Lem. A bit dated but engrossing nonetheless; one part philosophy, one part technology, one part ... sociology? Quite interesting.
on “The American Economy Is in a Funk, But Not for the Reasons We Think” ↗Stanislaw Lem, "Summa Technologiae", translated by Joanna Zylinska, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis-London, 2013, ISBN 978-0816675760 Phenomenal work, well worth reading and re-reading.
on “Why Stanislaw Lem’s futurism deserves attention (2015)” ↗One of the greatest sources of those Lem's "predictions" is his Summa Technologiae, which was recently translated into English - https://www.amazon.com/s?search-alias=stripbooks&field-isbn=... It's from the 60s and contains strikingly good predictions on AI, SETI, Virtual Realities,…
on “Things Stanislaw Lem Predicted” ↗"Summa Technologiae" by Stanislaw Lem. It's the book about everything existing, possible and impossible too. For me it gives motivation to learn new, think about something new, try to find limits of what I already know.…
on “Ask HN: Books that improved your career?” ↗check "Summa technologiae" by Stanislaw Lem, from 1960ies, one chapter is comparing bio-evolution with all kinds of technological (r)evolution(s), lots of similarities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Technologiae
on “Extinction of Steam Locomotives Derails Assumptions about Biological Evolution” ↗I highly recommend Golem XIV from Stanislaw Lem. And his other books, such as Summa Technologiae. He would probably agree with you, were he still among us.
on “Why Conscious AI Is a Bad, Bad Idea” ↗One of my personal favorites, but a very difficult read: _Summa Technologiae_ by Stanislaw Lem. It's so difficult I haven't actually finished it. It's remarkably dense.
on “How to live an intellectually rich life” ↗I just wish everyone read Summa Technologiae from Stanislaw Lem. This was obviously covered back in 1964, with the relevant implications. https://publicityreform.github.io/findbyimage/readings/lem.p...
Oh my god, Stanisław Lem. I have read Summa Technologiae and everything is in there. And I mean everything. I have yet to see any new horizons for humanity he hasn't covered back in the sixties. For me the single most distressing idea is that we might want…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗He also has an amazing essay on futurology called Summa Technologiae. It clearly shows his insight into what is happening to our society as we advance in tech. It was recently translated to English and is a must read.
on “Stanisław Lem's Reflections on the Objects of His Childhood Home” ↗Summa Technologiae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Technologiae) is an excellent read and stunningly predictive.
on “Things Stanislaw Lem Predicted” ↗