Lech Keller
Monash University, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Faculty Member
- I have recently published several books and papers on the subject of business management, economics (especially lab... moreI have recently published several books and papers on the subject of business management, economics (especially labour market institutions and transport economics) as well as on SF.edit
Określenie „złoty wiek” (lub „złota era” - ”golden age”) nawiązuje na ogół do periodyzacji historii anglosaskiej fantastyki naukowej, autorstwa Lestera del Rey’a. Mianem tym określa on fantastykę naukową (SF) powstałą w Stanach... more
Określenie „złoty wiek” (lub „złota era” - ”golden age”) nawiązuje na ogół do periodyzacji historii anglosaskiej fantastyki naukowej, autorstwa Lestera del Rey’a. Mianem tym określa on fantastykę naukową (SF) powstałą w Stanach Zjednoczonych Ameryki i Wielkiej Brytanii w latach 1938-1949. „Złoty wiek” SF nastąpił po okresie tzw. „ery pulpy” SF z lat 1920-tych i 1930-tych. Natomiast Robert Silverberg uznaje za „złoty wiek” SF lata 1950-te. Beletrystyka „przyszłościowa” tego okresu miała popularyzować osiągnięcia nauki i techniki, tworząc jednocześnie poetykę nurtu, określaną (również w polskiej krytyce i publicystyce dotyczącej SF) mianem hard science fiction (twardej fantastyki naukowej).
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Polska SF wyrosła, podobnie jak w innych krajach, w XVIII wieku na gruncie literatury utopijnej. Już w roku 1785 ukazała się w Polsce powieść warszawskiego księdza, historyka i publicysty Michała Dymitra Krajewskiego (1746-1817)... more
Polska SF wyrosła, podobnie jak w innych krajach, w XVIII wieku na gruncie literatury utopijnej. Już w roku 1785 ukazała się w Polsce powieść warszawskiego księdza, historyka i publicysty Michała Dymitra Krajewskiego (1746-1817) zatytułowana "Woyciech Zdarzyński, życie i przypadki swoje opisujący" , która jako pierwsza w literaturze polskiej opisała wyprawę na Księżyc.
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Opracowanie to wyjaśnia specyfikę fantastyki naukowej.
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The works of and about Janusz Andrzej Zajdel
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Janusz Andrzej Zajdel w swej twórczości doskonale łączył naukę (science) z fikcją literacką(fiction). Zdolność ta wynika ze stylu jego tworzenia oraz z pracy, jaką wykonywał zawodowo. Jedną z niewątpliwych wartości jego pisarstwa jest... more
Janusz Andrzej Zajdel w swej twórczości doskonale łączył naukę (science) z fikcją literacką(fiction). Zdolność ta wynika ze stylu jego tworzenia oraz z pracy, jaką wykonywał zawodowo. Jedną z niewątpliwych wartości jego pisarstwa jest duża oszczędność w słowach i precyzja wypowiedzi. Nade wszystko jednak wybijają się niebanalne, świeże pomysły, niekiedy dość przewrotne oraz umiejętność mistrzowskiego kreślenia przygodowej akcji. Twórczość Zajdla mieści się jednak przede wszystkim w kategoriach prognozy społecznej, stwarzającej szanse refleksji nad zmiennością i wartościowaniem historii.
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The works of and about Konrad Fiałkowski
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Powieści Konrada Fiałkowskiego należą do późniejszej („dojrzałej”) fazy twórczości autora, w której następuje wyraźny przełom – utwory z tego okresu poruszają tematykę poszukiwania prawdy i praw rządzących naszą rzeczywistością.... more
Powieści Konrada Fiałkowskiego należą do późniejszej („dojrzałej”) fazy twórczości autora, w której następuje wyraźny przełom – utwory z tego okresu poruszają tematykę poszukiwania prawdy i praw rządzących naszą rzeczywistością.
Natomiast jego opowiadania z lat 1956–1979 (okres „młodzieńczy” czy też „naiwny”) utrzymane są głównie w konwencji „cudownego wynalazku”. Są to, jak na ówczesną SF przystało, opowieści przepełnione nauką. Towarzyszy ona przy okazji kontaktów z przedstawicielami „Obcych”, wzajemnych relacji człowieka z maszyną, jak i – rzecz oczywista – eksperymentów naukowych, które niejednokrotnie ingerują w strukturę psychiczną i biologiczną człowieka. Słownictwo niektórych z tych opowiadań może wydawać się nam dziś czasami nieco nieadekwatne do współczesnego wyobrażenia przyszłości: aerolot, czasolot, decelerator, fantron, koleopter, kosmogator, mnemokopia, stereowizja, telewizofonia czy wideogram. Jest to jednak wciąż rodzaj literatury, którą czyta się z przyjemnością.
Natomiast jego opowiadania z lat 1956–1979 (okres „młodzieńczy” czy też „naiwny”) utrzymane są głównie w konwencji „cudownego wynalazku”. Są to, jak na ówczesną SF przystało, opowieści przepełnione nauką. Towarzyszy ona przy okazji kontaktów z przedstawicielami „Obcych”, wzajemnych relacji człowieka z maszyną, jak i – rzecz oczywista – eksperymentów naukowych, które niejednokrotnie ingerują w strukturę psychiczną i biologiczną człowieka. Słownictwo niektórych z tych opowiadań może wydawać się nam dziś czasami nieco nieadekwatne do współczesnego wyobrażenia przyszłości: aerolot, czasolot, decelerator, fantron, koleopter, kosmogator, mnemokopia, stereowizja, telewizofonia czy wideogram. Jest to jednak wciąż rodzaj literatury, którą czyta się z przyjemnością.
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This book examines the decline of manufacturing in Poland. Poland is the biggest state in Central Europe with the biggest manufacturing industry and also introduced the most radical reforms to the organisation of its economy. "Central... more
This book examines the decline of manufacturing in Poland. Poland is the biggest state in Central Europe with the biggest manufacturing industry and also introduced the most radical reforms to the organisation of its economy. "Central Europe" is defined here as an area of Poland, Bohemia-Moravia (i.e. present Czech Republic), Slovakia and Hungary.
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According to Lawrence M Hinman, Ethics is “the explicit, philosophical reflection on moral beliefs and practices. The difference between ethics and morality is similar to the difference between musicology and music. Ethics is a... more
According to Lawrence M Hinman, Ethics is “the explicit, philosophical reflection on moral beliefs and practices. The difference between ethics and morality is similar to the difference between musicology and music. Ethics is a conscious stepping back and reflecting on morality, just as musicology is a conscious reflection on music.” This is very brief definition of ethics, so before we can proceed further, we must clear some possible confusions, first of which arises on crossroads between ethics and morality.
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Niewygodna prawda o tym, że Stanisław Lem był bardzo długo pupilkiem komunistycznego reżimu
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This publication is, in my opinion, the first serious attempt to compile a comprehensive biography of Stanisław Lem in English. In this study, I will try to write the truth about Lem - as objective as possible in practice. After all, Lem... more
This publication is, in my opinion, the first serious attempt to compile a comprehensive biography of Stanisław Lem in English. In this study, I will try to write the truth about Lem - as objective as possible in practice. After all, Lem himself wrote in his autobiography "Mein Leben" that "a man can write a series of autobiographies that differ significantly from each other, depending on the adopted point of view and selection criteria." I do not mean any attempt to "debunk" Lem, but to find the nucleus of the truth about him, which is, however, currently quite difficult, as there is still no publicly available Lem museum with an appropriate library and access to Lem's archives is still restricted in practice only for the group of "relatives and friends" of Stanisław Lem's son and the writer's former personal secretary.
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The paper presents the state and perspectives of transport corridors in Europe, Central Asian and Caucasian countries, in the perspective of globalization and integration. Transport corridors positively influence on the social development... more
The paper presents the state and perspectives of transport corridors in Europe, Central Asian and Caucasian countries, in the perspective of globalization and integration. Transport corridors positively influence on the social development while new working places appear, contribute to acquaintance with the culture of other countries. They are similar to rivers due to which neighbouring territories continue existing.
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This thesis is dedicated to the analysis of the results of neoliberal socio-economic policy applied in years 1983-2003 in Australia by governments of formally different political orientations as a part of broader macro and microeconomic... more
This thesis is dedicated to the analysis of the results of neoliberal socio-economic policy applied in years 1983-2003 in Australia by governments of formally different political orientations as a part of broader macro and microeconomic reform, which was designed in order to improve competitiveness of Australian economy. I will analyse mostly results of this transformation in such areas as labour market (mainly unemployment), inflation, dynamics of GDP and real wages. My argument is that the American model followed by Australia and also New Zealand has not the real chances to prove it in the Australian conditions and thus had to fail.
In this thesis I also analyse usefulness of solutions characteristic for the American model of the 1980s for Australia and New Zealand. To estimate the success of reforms, having in view the improvement of the competitiveness of economy of a given country, one should at the beginning specify understanding of such key terms as competitiveness of economy, her determinants as well as the ways of her measurement. One should also distinguish the idea of competitive ability from the results of its implementation, that is position, which given economy occupies in a given moment of time, i.e. competitive position. The first is determined by natural resources: human, infrastructure, technology, know how, capital and position of a given economy among the other countries. The second is usually measured using total GNP (or GDP) and GNP (GDP) per capita, share in world trade, the efficiency of work (wider: the productiveness of a given economy).
Estimating the competitiveness of economies of Australia and NZ, I have concentrated on such “classic” measures as: for competitive position - GDP and GDP per capita, efficiency (productivity) of work as well as widely understood conditions of work and pay, including the condition of labour market, and for competitive ability - the broadly understood indicators of economic growth. I have also analysed the social results of reforms, as well as, generally, the usefulness of American model of reforms for different countries (national economies).
On the basis of analysis of statistical data and literature of the subject, I came to conclusion, that the growth of efficiency (productivity) in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s, caused, among other things, by the mentioned reforms, was unstable, and partially broke down in the late part of the 20th century, when according to many estimates the level of that efficiency returned to the level of the 1970s, and so from before the reforms. According to some experts, it even returned to the level lower than in the 1960s.
The neo-liberal reforms in Australia and New Zealand improved, without any doubts, competitiveness of economies of those countries, especially their competitive position as measured by such indicators as GDP and GDP per capita and official unemployment rate, as well as their competitive ability as measured by such indicators as dynamics of GDP and GDP per capita. However, those reforms caused also a number of negative phenomena, such as the chronic deficits of current account balance, and for this reason very serious growth of foreign debts, which in turn negatively influences (by the way of high interest rates) the economic growth of those countries. The analysed reforms brought also enlarged levels of social stratification, and thus increased level of social tensions. Therefore, exact specification of their influence on quality of life seems to be difficult.
In this thesis I also analyse usefulness of solutions characteristic for the American model of the 1980s for Australia and New Zealand. To estimate the success of reforms, having in view the improvement of the competitiveness of economy of a given country, one should at the beginning specify understanding of such key terms as competitiveness of economy, her determinants as well as the ways of her measurement. One should also distinguish the idea of competitive ability from the results of its implementation, that is position, which given economy occupies in a given moment of time, i.e. competitive position. The first is determined by natural resources: human, infrastructure, technology, know how, capital and position of a given economy among the other countries. The second is usually measured using total GNP (or GDP) and GNP (GDP) per capita, share in world trade, the efficiency of work (wider: the productiveness of a given economy).
Estimating the competitiveness of economies of Australia and NZ, I have concentrated on such “classic” measures as: for competitive position - GDP and GDP per capita, efficiency (productivity) of work as well as widely understood conditions of work and pay, including the condition of labour market, and for competitive ability - the broadly understood indicators of economic growth. I have also analysed the social results of reforms, as well as, generally, the usefulness of American model of reforms for different countries (national economies).
On the basis of analysis of statistical data and literature of the subject, I came to conclusion, that the growth of efficiency (productivity) in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s, caused, among other things, by the mentioned reforms, was unstable, and partially broke down in the late part of the 20th century, when according to many estimates the level of that efficiency returned to the level of the 1970s, and so from before the reforms. According to some experts, it even returned to the level lower than in the 1960s.
The neo-liberal reforms in Australia and New Zealand improved, without any doubts, competitiveness of economies of those countries, especially their competitive position as measured by such indicators as GDP and GDP per capita and official unemployment rate, as well as their competitive ability as measured by such indicators as dynamics of GDP and GDP per capita. However, those reforms caused also a number of negative phenomena, such as the chronic deficits of current account balance, and for this reason very serious growth of foreign debts, which in turn negatively influences (by the way of high interest rates) the economic growth of those countries. The analysed reforms brought also enlarged levels of social stratification, and thus increased level of social tensions. Therefore, exact specification of their influence on quality of life seems to be difficult.
Research Interests:
This is a proposal of the reform of the Polish science and its higher (tertiary) education - published in: pluskiewicz.blogspot.com. I present here, in a nutshell, my program for the improvement of Polish science and Polish higher... more
This is a proposal of the reform of the Polish science and its higher (tertiary) education - published in: pluskiewicz.blogspot.com.
I present here, in a nutshell, my program for the improvement of Polish science and Polish higher education:
1. Withdrawal from the system of state-awarded bachelor's, engineering, master's and medical diplomas.
2. Diversification of higher education institutions into research and teaching - the former would conduct mainly research and doctoral studies, and the latter studies at the engineer/bachelors level.
3. The requirement of inter-disciplinarity in both education and research.
4. Internationalization of universities and science, so academic teachers (including citizens of other countries) should be employed on the basis of an international competition. The composition of these selection boards should also be international. The introduction of this system requires consistent procedures for the recognition of foreign diplomas. Where justified, lectures and seminars should be held in English to enable people who do not speak Polish language to study in Poland (currently we have in Poland only around 1% of foreign students).
5. Liquidation of the official pay scale and teaching time and introduction of a reliable system for evaluation of teaching (including evaluation by the students) and scientific achievements so that good work is well rewarded. There should be an absolute 6-8-year grace period for employing professors who have obtained a doctoral degree at the same university.
6. Liquidation of the current procedure of awarding the title of professor by the President of the Republic of Poland.
7. Habilitation ("higher" doctorate) should be replaced by an international competition for the position of Associate and "full" Professor.
8. Changing the university management system - appointing and dismissing the rector of a public school by the board of trustees, which, apart from the most eminent professors (who should be not representatives of individual faculties!) of a given university, would include representatives of the ministry competent for higher education, as well as the scientific and economic environment of the region.
I present here, in a nutshell, my program for the improvement of Polish science and Polish higher education:
1. Withdrawal from the system of state-awarded bachelor's, engineering, master's and medical diplomas.
2. Diversification of higher education institutions into research and teaching - the former would conduct mainly research and doctoral studies, and the latter studies at the engineer/bachelors level.
3. The requirement of inter-disciplinarity in both education and research.
4. Internationalization of universities and science, so academic teachers (including citizens of other countries) should be employed on the basis of an international competition. The composition of these selection boards should also be international. The introduction of this system requires consistent procedures for the recognition of foreign diplomas. Where justified, lectures and seminars should be held in English to enable people who do not speak Polish language to study in Poland (currently we have in Poland only around 1% of foreign students).
5. Liquidation of the official pay scale and teaching time and introduction of a reliable system for evaluation of teaching (including evaluation by the students) and scientific achievements so that good work is well rewarded. There should be an absolute 6-8-year grace period for employing professors who have obtained a doctoral degree at the same university.
6. Liquidation of the current procedure of awarding the title of professor by the President of the Republic of Poland.
7. Habilitation ("higher" doctorate) should be replaced by an international competition for the position of Associate and "full" Professor.
8. Changing the university management system - appointing and dismissing the rector of a public school by the board of trustees, which, apart from the most eminent professors (who should be not representatives of individual faculties!) of a given university, would include representatives of the ministry competent for higher education, as well as the scientific and economic environment of the region.
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ACTA LEMIANA MONASHIENSIS - SPECIAL LEM EDITION OF
ACTA POLONICA MONASHIENSIS, VOLUME 2 NUMBER 2,
Leros Press 2002
ACTA POLONICA MONASHIENSIS, VOLUME 2 NUMBER 2,
Leros Press 2002
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• Visions of the Future in the Writings of Stanisław Lem (Wizje przyszłości w twórczości Stanisława Lema) Saarbrücken: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010 - Vol. II Annotated and Cross-Referenced Primary and Secondary Bibliography of... more
• Visions of the Future in the Writings of Stanisław Lem (Wizje przyszłości w twórczości Stanisława Lema) Saarbrücken: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010 - Vol. II Annotated and Cross-Referenced Primary and Secondary Bibliography of Stanisław Lem (Opatrzona komentarzami i odsyłaczami pierwotna i wtórna bibliografia Stanisława Lema)
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Visions of the Future in the Writings of Stanisław Lem (Wizje przyszłości w twórczości Stanisława Lema) Saarbrücken: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010 - Vol. I Visions of the Future in the Writings of Stanisław Lem (Wizje... more
Visions of the Future in the Writings of Stanisław Lem (Wizje przyszłości w twórczości Stanisława Lema) Saarbrücken: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010 - Vol. I Visions of the Future in the Writings of Stanisław Lem (Wizje przyszłości w twórczości Stanisława Lema)
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Research Interests: Science Fiction Studies, Darko Suvin, Stanisław Lem, Literatura polska XX w., Wojciech Kajtoch, and 15 moreLeonid Aszkenazy, Władimir Borisow, Stanisław Bereś, Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Konstantin Duszenko, Franz Rottensteiner, Andrzej Stoff, Antoni Smuszkiewicz, Jerzy Jarzębski, Lech Jęczmyk, Piotr Krywak, Michael Kandel, Mariusz Leś, Marek Oramus, and Wojciech Orliński
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Stanisław Lem is known in the English-speaking countries virtually only as a Science Fiction writer. This is despite the fact that two of his best non-fantastic novels were translated into English, and his numerous critical papers and... more
Stanisław Lem is known in the English-speaking countries virtually only as a Science Fiction writer. This is despite the fact that two of his best non-fantastic novels were translated into English, and his numerous critical papers and reviews published in such periodicals as Science-Fiction Studies. This is in significant contrast to Lem’s reception in countries such as Germany (with no significant difference between the eastern and western lands), the former Soviet Union and, of course, his native Poland.
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Albert Einstein był panteistą, czyli wierzył w bezosobowego Boga, utożsamianego z naturą. i Jego wyznanie wiary zawarte było chyba najlepiej w telegramie wysłanym do żydowskiej gazety w roku 1929, kiedy to został on oskarżony przez... more
Albert Einstein był panteistą, czyli wierzył w bezosobowego Boga, utożsamianego z naturą. i Jego wyznanie wiary zawarte było chyba najlepiej w telegramie wysłanym do żydowskiej gazety w roku 1929, kiedy to został on oskarżony przez ortodoksyjnych żydów o bluźnierstwo: "Wierzę w Boga Spinozy,i który objawia się w harmonii wszystkiego, co istnieje, ale nie w Boga, który interweniuje w losy i uczynki ludzi".i Jak jednak słusznie zauważa Nigel Calder, "nawet ta 'miękka' ('soft') religijność stała się w końcu poważną przeszkodą (stumbling block) dla Einsteina jako fizyka". Calder przypomina nam też, iż teorie względności Einsteina (szczególna, odnosząca się do ciał poruszających się z szybkościami zbliżonymi do szybkości światła, i ogólna, opisująca grawitację) były niezwykle ostro krytykowane zarówno w hitlerowskich Niemczech (jako "żydowska pseudonauka") oraz w ZSRR aż do śmierci Stalina w roku 1953 (jako "niezgodne z materializmem dialektycznym, czyli filozofią marksistowską"). Jednak najostrzej krytykował Einsteina kościół, zgodnie ze swymi niechlubnymi tradycjami walki z nauką i uczonymi (wystarczy tu przypomnieć przypadki Kopernika, Galileusza czy też Darwina). Watykan długo popierał pewnego amerykańskiego kardynała, który twierdził iż teorie względności Einsteina "są źródłem uniwersalnej wątpliwości w istnienie Boga". Tak więc Calder ma bez wątpliwości rację, gdy pisze iż "gdyby Einstein żył w innym czasie i w innym miejscu, to mógłby on zostać spalony na stosie, albo zostać zamkniętym i umrzeć w obozie koncentracyjnym lub szpitalu psychiatrycznym".
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The metre-wide Linha Vouga in central Portugal is the only narrow gauge railway in Portugal in operation today, apart from a short four-kilometres section of the so-called Metro de Mirandela, which is part of the Tua-Bragança line that... more
The metre-wide Linha Vouga in central Portugal is the only narrow gauge railway in Portugal in operation today, apart from a short four-kilometres section of the so-called Metro de Mirandela, which is part of the Tua-Bragança line that was closed in 2008. Linha Vouga was described in great detail in "Świat Kolei" numbers 3 and 4 of 2019, when it was clearly in decline and earlier in "Świat Kolei" number 12 of 2015, while I would like to present its condition in 2010, when it was mostly free of graffiti and therefore very pleasant to look at.
Po polsku:
Metrowej szerokości toru Linha Vouga w środkowej Portugalii jest jedyną dziś czynną koleją wąsko-torową wPortugalii, poza krótkim, czterokilometrowym odcinkiem tzw. Metro de Mirandela, będącego fragmentem zamkniętej wroku 2008 linii Tua-Bragança. Linha Vouga była przedstawiona bardzo szczegółowo w ŚK 3 i 4/2019, kiedy jednak, w roku 2018, chyliła się już wyraźnie ku upadkowi, a wcześniej wnotatce w ŚK 12/2015. Natomiast ja chciałbym przedstawić jej stan zroku 2010, kiedy była ona wzasadzie wolna od graffiti itym samym prezentowała się bardzo przyjemnie.
Po polsku:
Metrowej szerokości toru Linha Vouga w środkowej Portugalii jest jedyną dziś czynną koleją wąsko-torową wPortugalii, poza krótkim, czterokilometrowym odcinkiem tzw. Metro de Mirandela, będącego fragmentem zamkniętej wroku 2008 linii Tua-Bragança. Linha Vouga była przedstawiona bardzo szczegółowo w ŚK 3 i 4/2019, kiedy jednak, w roku 2018, chyliła się już wyraźnie ku upadkowi, a wcześniej wnotatce w ŚK 12/2015. Natomiast ja chciałbym przedstawić jej stan zroku 2010, kiedy była ona wzasadzie wolna od graffiti itym samym prezentowała się bardzo przyjemnie.
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The Costa da Caparica narrow-gauge beach railway was built In order to facilitate access and the diversification of beach goers. It is approximately 9 km long and has 20 stops between the Costa da Caparica/Nova Praia initial station and... more
The Costa da Caparica narrow-gauge beach railway was built In order to facilitate access and the diversification of beach goers. It is approximately 9 km long and has 20 stops between the Costa da Caparica/Nova Praia initial station and the Fonte da Telha terminus. Trains run every half hour
from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and take passengers to areas that are not accessible by car. The trains run only in the summer months (from the beginning of June to the end of September).
The entire route takes about 20 minutes and the normal fare for the entire trip in the season 2022 costs 5 Euros (return €8.50) and is purchased on the board of the train.
The departure station, Nova Praia, is located at the extension of Avenida Dom Sebastião, near the ER 377-2 road, the roundabout and the camping area, at the end of Avenida General Humberto Delgado (approx.
10-15 minute walk from the bus station and city centre).
The terminal station, the Fonte da Telha, is located near Avenida 1 de Maio and not too far from Rua Dom João V and the EN377 road.
from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and take passengers to areas that are not accessible by car. The trains run only in the summer months (from the beginning of June to the end of September).
The entire route takes about 20 minutes and the normal fare for the entire trip in the season 2022 costs 5 Euros (return €8.50) and is purchased on the board of the train.
The departure station, Nova Praia, is located at the extension of Avenida Dom Sebastião, near the ER 377-2 road, the roundabout and the camping area, at the end of Avenida General Humberto Delgado (approx.
10-15 minute walk from the bus station and city centre).
The terminal station, the Fonte da Telha, is located near Avenida 1 de Maio and not too far from Rua Dom João V and the EN377 road.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In this paper I discuss changes in various monetary and non-monetary measures in the quality of life in Poland of the early 1990s. I also discuss various social consequences of unemployment, which was recently reintroduced to Poland. The... more
In this paper I discuss changes in various monetary and non-monetary measures in the quality of life in Poland of the early 1990s. I also discuss various social consequences of unemployment, which was recently reintroduced to Poland. The examined social consequences are changes in income distribution, pauperisation of various social classes and strata as well as modifications in life style (especially among the disadvantaged).
Research Interests:
Jest to referat niedopuszczony do wygłoszenia na Międzynarodowej Konferencji Naukowej „O Lemie i Po Lemie” - Gdańsk 19-21 Listopada 2021 roku, Zakład Teorii Literatury i Krytyki Artystycznej, Instytut Filologii Polskiej, Wydział... more
Jest to referat niedopuszczony do wygłoszenia na Międzynarodowej Konferencji Naukowej „O Lemie i Po Lemie” - Gdańsk 19-21 Listopada 2021 roku, Zakład Teorii Literatury i Krytyki Artystycznej, Instytut Filologii Polskiej, Wydział Filologiczny Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.
Tematem tego referatu jest próba analizy porównawczej powieści Cixina Liu Problem trzech ciał 1 oraz Stanisława Lema Fiasko 2. Omawiana tu powieść Lema jest nie tylko jego ostatnią powieścią, ale także jego ostatnim z naprawdę udanych dzieł. Można także śmiało zaryzykować stwierdzenie, że Stanisław Lem był w swoim najlepszym okresie twórczości, czyli mniej więcej przez 30 lat-od pierwszego wydania Dzienników gwiazdowych w roku 1957 aż do pierwszego polskiego wydania Fiaska, czyli aż do roku 1987, najwybitniejszym pisarzem piszącym po polsku w całej dotychczasowej historii polskiej literatury, jako iż spotkał się on zarówno z pozytywną a często też nawet wręcz entuzjastyczną opinią zawodowych krytyków, i to praktycznie na całym świecie: od Portugalii i Ameryki Północnej na Zachodzie po Japonię i Chiny na Wschodzie i od Skandynawii na Północy po Italię i Grecję a nawet Amerykę Łacińską na Południu, zaś jego wpływ na światową literaturę, i to nie tylko fantastycznonaukową, akademiccy krytycy przyrównują często do wpływu Juliusza Verne'a, H.G. Wellsa i Olafa Stapledona. Dochodzi tu też ogromna popularność fantastycznonaukowych utworów Lema wśród czytelników, szczególnie zaś w byłym Związku Radzieckim, ale także i w Polsce oraz w krajach słowiańskich i niemieckojęzycznych 3 .
Tematem tego referatu jest próba analizy porównawczej powieści Cixina Liu Problem trzech ciał 1 oraz Stanisława Lema Fiasko 2. Omawiana tu powieść Lema jest nie tylko jego ostatnią powieścią, ale także jego ostatnim z naprawdę udanych dzieł. Można także śmiało zaryzykować stwierdzenie, że Stanisław Lem był w swoim najlepszym okresie twórczości, czyli mniej więcej przez 30 lat-od pierwszego wydania Dzienników gwiazdowych w roku 1957 aż do pierwszego polskiego wydania Fiaska, czyli aż do roku 1987, najwybitniejszym pisarzem piszącym po polsku w całej dotychczasowej historii polskiej literatury, jako iż spotkał się on zarówno z pozytywną a często też nawet wręcz entuzjastyczną opinią zawodowych krytyków, i to praktycznie na całym świecie: od Portugalii i Ameryki Północnej na Zachodzie po Japonię i Chiny na Wschodzie i od Skandynawii na Północy po Italię i Grecję a nawet Amerykę Łacińską na Południu, zaś jego wpływ na światową literaturę, i to nie tylko fantastycznonaukową, akademiccy krytycy przyrównują często do wpływu Juliusza Verne'a, H.G. Wellsa i Olafa Stapledona. Dochodzi tu też ogromna popularność fantastycznonaukowych utworów Lema wśród czytelników, szczególnie zaś w byłym Związku Radzieckim, ale także i w Polsce oraz w krajach słowiańskich i niemieckojęzycznych 3 .
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This is Lem's "Wiara i wiedza " ("Faith and knowledge") from "Bez dogmatu” (“Without dogma”) No. 36 (1998) pp. 5 and 10, translated by the AI (designed and implemented by Lech Keller)
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In this paper, the author analyses competitiveness of Polish economy since year 1990. After discussing the meaning of competitiveness, he uses Porter's Diamond to critically analyse various dimensions of economic competitiveness of... more
In this paper, the author analyses competitiveness of Polish economy since year 1990. After discussing the meaning of competitiveness, he uses Porter's Diamond to critically analyse various dimensions of economic competitiveness of Poland. Finally, he suggests some changes in economic policy, in order to improve international competitiveness of Polish economy.
Research Interests:
The first symptoms of the US financial crisis appeared in the summer of 2007, after which it turned into a worldwide recession in 2008–2009. Virtually all major economies in the world, except China and India, recorded a decline in GDP in... more
The first symptoms of the US financial crisis appeared in the summer of 2007, after which it turned into a worldwide recession in 2008–2009. Virtually all major economies in the world, except China and India, recorded a decline in GDP in 2009. The slight (about 1%) GDP growth in Poland, and therefore within the measurement error, only proves that it has avoided the worst, but only because its financial system was (and still is) backward, i.e. Polish banks, due to lack of expertise, fortunately avoided investing in the so-called financial derivatives and the so-called subprime mortgages, which "investments" have plunged the markets and financial institutions of more developed countries. Thus, Poland cannot be an example of a rationally run economy and good financial system, but only an illustration of the thesis that an overdeveloped financial sector may be more dangerous for the economy than its relative backwardness.
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22 lipca 1974 - Warszawa, plac Zwycięstwa. Wystawa "Panorama XXX-lecia PRL". Tak się prezentował ostatni w Warszawie Chausson APH522, który trafił następnie do Muzeum Techniki. Jak wyglądał ten sam pojazd blisko 35 lat później można było... more
22 lipca 1974 - Warszawa, plac Zwycięstwa. Wystawa "Panorama XXX-lecia PRL". Tak się prezentował ostatni w Warszawie Chausson APH522, który trafił następnie do Muzeum Techniki. Jak wyglądał ten sam pojazd blisko 35 lat później można było do niedawna oglądać w filii MT w Norblinie. Foto: Lech Keller.
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The term comprador, is a Portuguese word that simply means ‘buyer” It was drawn from the Latin ‘comparare’, which in English means ‘to procure’. Originally, it was used in East Asia to describe a native servant in European households... more
The term comprador, is a Portuguese word that simply means ‘buyer” It was drawn from the Latin ‘comparare’, which in English means ‘to procure’. Originally, it was used in East Asia to describe a native servant in European households in the Canton (Guangzhou) region in southern China and especially in the neighbouring Portuguese colony oft Macao. The duties of such a servant included visits at the local market in to barter his employers’ goods.
Later, this term then evolved and now means the native contractor or supplier, who works for foreign companies in East Asia or the native managers of firms in East Asia. Before year 1949 (i.e. communist victory in mainland China) compradors held important positions in southern China. They were trading such goods as tea, silk, cotton and yarn for foreign (mostly Western) corporations and were the agents working for foreign-owned banks. Notable compradors, that were active during the Republican Period in the early 20th century China, included such names as Zhang Jiaao of Shanghai and Tong King-sing of Kwangtung (Guandong) Province.
In this paper, I will use the term comprador in a wider sense, as a ‘native person who is an agent of foreign-owned capital’, as it is used by Marxist researchers who coined the term comprador bourgeoisie to describe such compradors in regions outside of East Asia.
According to V. P. Panov Comprador Bourgeoisie is
(…) that part of the bourgeoisie of the economically backward countries (both colonial and independent) which acts as a go-between for foreign companies in domestic and foreign trade. This group is closely linked with the colonialists. Often it functions as an intermediary between the peasants and artisans of its own country and foreign monopolies.
The comprador bourgeoisie arose in the era of the formation of the imperialist colonial system. It was made up predominantly of the part of the native exploiting groups and classes that unconditionally submitted to foreign capital in both political and economic relations (merchants, usurers, feudal lords, and tribal aristocracy). From it and the clan-tribal aristocracy, the colonialists selected the cadre for the local officialdom. The characteristic feature of the comprador bourgeoisie was its antinational, pro-imperialist position and its refusal to participate in the bourgeois nationalistic anti-colonial movement of the late 19th and early 20th century and the period between the world wars.
After World War I there was a weakening of the economic dependency of several large colonies on the mother countries, establishing the conditions for the accelerated development of the national bourgeoisie on the base of the growing native industry. The economic role of the comprador bourgeoisie simultaneously declined in importance. After World War II, with the collapse of the imperialist colonial system and the growth of the national liberation movement, the role of the national bourgeoisie increased, especially its anti-imperialist strata. Since the development of native industry was being impeded by foreign capital, in many developing countries the national bourgeoisie and, above all, its petite and middle bourgeoisie segments took part in the national liberation movement. The result has been the political isolation of the comprador bourgeoisie.
In the young states of Asia and Africa that are following the capitalist way of development, a comprador bourgeoisie continues to exist, serving mainly to maintain economic ties with foreign capital. Not infrequently its political interests coincide with the interests of the entire national bourgeois class, of which it is a part. However, even in these conditions, this group is the one most strongly affected by the economic and political influence of foreign capital, because by the nature of its activity it is the most closely linked with this capital.
Comprador bourgeoisie is being described by the radical left as ‘the running dogs of imperialism’, or a kind of middle managers for the imperialists who are their real bosses, but they get a nice salary for that job. The comprador bourgeoisie is frequently differenced from the national bourgeoisie, which is interested in more-or-less independent development of the national capitalist economy (it is frequently genuinely interested in independent economic development of the country). But in underdeveloped counties such as today’s Poland, the national bourgeoisie is rather small in its economic might, compared to the comprador capitalists.
One can say that while national bourgeoisie is enriching mostly itself, the comprador bourgeoisie is mainly enriching the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie, for a relatively small share of the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie profits. In terms of politics and policy, the comprador bourgeoisie is receiving and following the orders from the imperialists, foreign bourgeoisie. Those orders can be either direct, or applied through the ‘carrot & stick measures’, such as through such international institutions as European Commission (EC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank or OECD.
Later, this term then evolved and now means the native contractor or supplier, who works for foreign companies in East Asia or the native managers of firms in East Asia. Before year 1949 (i.e. communist victory in mainland China) compradors held important positions in southern China. They were trading such goods as tea, silk, cotton and yarn for foreign (mostly Western) corporations and were the agents working for foreign-owned banks. Notable compradors, that were active during the Republican Period in the early 20th century China, included such names as Zhang Jiaao of Shanghai and Tong King-sing of Kwangtung (Guandong) Province.
In this paper, I will use the term comprador in a wider sense, as a ‘native person who is an agent of foreign-owned capital’, as it is used by Marxist researchers who coined the term comprador bourgeoisie to describe such compradors in regions outside of East Asia.
According to V. P. Panov Comprador Bourgeoisie is
(…) that part of the bourgeoisie of the economically backward countries (both colonial and independent) which acts as a go-between for foreign companies in domestic and foreign trade. This group is closely linked with the colonialists. Often it functions as an intermediary between the peasants and artisans of its own country and foreign monopolies.
The comprador bourgeoisie arose in the era of the formation of the imperialist colonial system. It was made up predominantly of the part of the native exploiting groups and classes that unconditionally submitted to foreign capital in both political and economic relations (merchants, usurers, feudal lords, and tribal aristocracy). From it and the clan-tribal aristocracy, the colonialists selected the cadre for the local officialdom. The characteristic feature of the comprador bourgeoisie was its antinational, pro-imperialist position and its refusal to participate in the bourgeois nationalistic anti-colonial movement of the late 19th and early 20th century and the period between the world wars.
After World War I there was a weakening of the economic dependency of several large colonies on the mother countries, establishing the conditions for the accelerated development of the national bourgeoisie on the base of the growing native industry. The economic role of the comprador bourgeoisie simultaneously declined in importance. After World War II, with the collapse of the imperialist colonial system and the growth of the national liberation movement, the role of the national bourgeoisie increased, especially its anti-imperialist strata. Since the development of native industry was being impeded by foreign capital, in many developing countries the national bourgeoisie and, above all, its petite and middle bourgeoisie segments took part in the national liberation movement. The result has been the political isolation of the comprador bourgeoisie.
In the young states of Asia and Africa that are following the capitalist way of development, a comprador bourgeoisie continues to exist, serving mainly to maintain economic ties with foreign capital. Not infrequently its political interests coincide with the interests of the entire national bourgeois class, of which it is a part. However, even in these conditions, this group is the one most strongly affected by the economic and political influence of foreign capital, because by the nature of its activity it is the most closely linked with this capital.
Comprador bourgeoisie is being described by the radical left as ‘the running dogs of imperialism’, or a kind of middle managers for the imperialists who are their real bosses, but they get a nice salary for that job. The comprador bourgeoisie is frequently differenced from the national bourgeoisie, which is interested in more-or-less independent development of the national capitalist economy (it is frequently genuinely interested in independent economic development of the country). But in underdeveloped counties such as today’s Poland, the national bourgeoisie is rather small in its economic might, compared to the comprador capitalists.
One can say that while national bourgeoisie is enriching mostly itself, the comprador bourgeoisie is mainly enriching the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie, for a relatively small share of the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie profits. In terms of politics and policy, the comprador bourgeoisie is receiving and following the orders from the imperialists, foreign bourgeoisie. Those orders can be either direct, or applied through the ‘carrot & stick measures’, such as through such international institutions as European Commission (EC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank or OECD.
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This paper contains attempt to estimate influence of labour market institutions on labour market performance in transition countries in Europe. The most important argument is that although labour market institutions are important in... more
This paper contains attempt to estimate influence of labour market institutions on labour market performance in transition countries in Europe. The most important argument is that although labour market institutions are important in controlling the level and structure of unemployment, the decisive factors are rather macroeconomic. The analysed transition countries seem to possess a set of labour market institutions, which is broadly similar to that of the Western Europe (the "old" EU). Therefore it can be also argued, that adding the nine transition countries to the OECD did not increase diversity of this institution in a dramatic way, as the analysed transition countries opted (as a rule) for average institutional package. According to results of this research, there seems to be no link between the levels of strictness of Employment Protection Law (EPL) and overall level of unemployment, but active labour policies facilitate re-entry into the labour market. Therefore, I draw final conclusion that although labour market institutions are important in controlling the level and structure of unemployment, the decisive factors are, however, definitely of macroeconomic nature. Those decisive factors are in the realm of the general condition of economy: the size of aggregate demand and conditions on foreign markets. Methodology used in this paper is based on the classical European tradition of social theorising. According to Preston (1998): "the classical European tradition of social theorising is concerned with the political economic, social institutional and culture analysis of broad patterns of complex change".
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This paper analyses transformation of Australian labour market in years 1983–2003. This transformation was mostly a result of neoliberal socio-economic policy applied in that period in Australia by governments of formally different... more
This paper analyses transformation of Australian labour market in years 1983–2003. This transformation was mostly a result of neoliberal socio-economic policy applied in that period in Australia by governments of formally different political orientations as a part of broader macro and microeconomic reform, that was designed in order to improve competitiveness of Australian economy. I will also analyse briefly results of this transformation in such areas as unemployment, inflation, dynamics of GDP and real wages. My argument is that the American model followed by Australia and also New Zealand has not the real chances to prove itself in the Australian conditions.
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In this paper I analyse the (usually contractionary) employment policy in the recession times, analyse employment as a source of company's profits, dismiss the "greatest management lie", i.e. the empty declaration that "people are the... more
In this paper I analyse the (usually contractionary) employment policy in the recession times, analyse employment as a source of company's profits, dismiss the "greatest management lie", i.e. the empty declaration that "people are the greatest asset of the company" and try to find what are really the most important assets of the company. According to my research they are, as a rule: The brand and reputation of the company; Fixed assets of the company; Company's rights to natural resources; Money owned by the company; Patents, algorithms, secret recipes, systems and processes owned by the company and Company's customer base.
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In this paper, the author analyses competitiveness of Polish economy since year 1990. After discussing the meaning of competitiveness, he uses Porter's Diamond to critically analyse various dimensions of economic competitiveness of... more
In this paper, the author analyses competitiveness of Polish economy since year 1990. After discussing the meaning of competitiveness, he uses Porter's Diamond to critically analyse various dimensions of economic competitiveness of Poland. Finally, he suggests some changes in economic policy, in order to improve international competitiveness of Polish economy.
Research Interests:
In this paper, I try to define business ethics, the need for it and discuss if it is possible and necessary. I understand business ethics as a subset of applied ethics relating to business activity of human beings. I also explain the... more
In this paper, I try to define business ethics, the need for it and discuss if it is possible and necessary. I understand business ethics as a subset of applied ethics relating to business activity of human beings. I also explain the differences between ethics and law, especially business ethics and business law, as well as differences between business etiquette, and business ethics. I also argue that the rising challenge from China and India, strong independence movements in Latin America and prolonged socio-economic crisis in Western Europe, as well as the recent events in the US, made it no longer possible to ignore the ethical dimension of business activities. Finally, I signal the fundamental questions of business ethics, such as
1. What is ownership, and is it moral?
2. Are relationships between labour and capital based on sound moral principles?
3. Where is the border between ethical and unethical methods in fighting the competition?
4. What is the definition of “fair profit”?
The conclusion is that as the “invisible hand of the market” rarely solves the ethical problems in business, so business ethics is really a necessity.
1. What is ownership, and is it moral?
2. Are relationships between labour and capital based on sound moral principles?
3. Where is the border between ethical and unethical methods in fighting the competition?
4. What is the definition of “fair profit”?
The conclusion is that as the “invisible hand of the market” rarely solves the ethical problems in business, so business ethics is really a necessity.
Research Interests:
Utility is a fundamental notion of orthodox (mostly neoclassical) economics, but as it is an idea, that is very vague and thus impossible to define and measure, it did a lot of harm to economics as a science. Therefore, I strongly argue... more
Utility is a fundamental notion of orthodox (mostly neoclassical) economics, but as it is an idea, that is very vague and thus impossible to define and measure, it did a lot of harm to economics as a science. Therefore, I strongly argue that this outdated and imprecise concept should be finally abandoned, especially as a basis for microeconomic consumer theory, because it is not only illogical, but also ideologically not neutral, and thus unscientific. For sheer inertia, the concept of utility, as a basis for microeconomic theory, is taught to the students, thus corrupting the young minds. Furthermore, the present financial and economic crisis, the most serious since the 1930s, should force the economists from the academia to seriously revise the foundations of microeconomic theory, and, as logical consequence, rewrite the handbooks in microeconomics. I do not merely argue that the utility theory defies both logic and empirical justification, as many authors did it before me. I argue that the very notion of utility is unscientific, and was kept in microeconomic books only because of sheer inertia, but this way it made a lot of harm to the science of economics, and, as a result to the real economies. I also argue that the subjectivist theory of value should be replaced with an objectivist one, based on value of labour.
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Sieć kolejowa w Melbourne i jego okolicach (obszar zamieszkały przez ponad trzy i pół miliona mieszkańców) jest obecnie obsługiwana przez prywatną spółkę Metro Trains Melbourne w ramach umowy z rządem stanu Wiktoria. Sieć ta jest oparta... more
Sieć kolejowa w Melbourne i jego okolicach (obszar zamieszkały przez ponad trzy i pół miliona mieszkańców) jest obecnie obsługiwana
przez prywatną spółkę Metro Trains Melbourne w ramach umowy z rządem stanu Wiktoria. Sieć ta jest oparta bardziej
na modelu kolei podmiejskiej skupiającej się na centrum aglomeracji (tzw. Melbourne Central Business District – CBD)
niż na modelu Szybkiej Kolei Miejskiej (SKM), jako że pociągi te obsługują rozległy obszar podmiejski oraz nie kursują w stałych
odstępach czasowych, m.in. ze względu na korzystanie z torów, po których odbywa się także ruch dalekobieżny i towarowy.
przez prywatną spółkę Metro Trains Melbourne w ramach umowy z rządem stanu Wiktoria. Sieć ta jest oparta bardziej
na modelu kolei podmiejskiej skupiającej się na centrum aglomeracji (tzw. Melbourne Central Business District – CBD)
niż na modelu Szybkiej Kolei Miejskiej (SKM), jako że pociągi te obsługują rozległy obszar podmiejski oraz nie kursują w stałych
odstępach czasowych, m.in. ze względu na korzystanie z torów, po których odbywa się także ruch dalekobieżny i towarowy.
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In January 1990 Poland has started a "stabilisation-cum-reform" programme aimed at reduction of inflation and conversion to so called "market economy". At that time government tried not to use a world "capitalism" for purely political... more
In January 1990 Poland has started a "stabilisation-cum-reform"
programme aimed at reduction of inflation and conversion to so called "market economy". At that time government tried not to use a world "capitalism" for purely political reasons as there were still Communists in the control of some key ministries. There are no hard-line communists in the present Polish government1 but economic situation is seen by many as even worse than in 1989.
programme aimed at reduction of inflation and conversion to so called "market economy". At that time government tried not to use a world "capitalism" for purely political reasons as there were still Communists in the control of some key ministries. There are no hard-line communists in the present Polish government1 but economic situation is seen by many as even worse than in 1989.
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The recent successful terrorists attacks prove that terrorism is far from being dead. Quite contrary: it is still one of the most effective (and certainly the most cost effective) ways of conducting politics (“terrorism and war as an... more
The recent successful terrorists attacks prove that terrorism is far from being dead. Quite contrary: it is still one of the most effective (and certainly the most cost effective) ways of conducting politics (“terrorism
and war as an extensions of politics”). Osama Bin Ladin was for long time the most hated person in the west, and especially in the United States of America. However, not so long time ago, Yaser Arafat was
such a person, and in the 1940s, Menachem Begin and Yitzak Shamir, later Israeli Prime Ministers, were also regarded by the British as the common terrorists, enemies of the British people and the leaders of
terrorist organisations. Nelson Mandela, later a revered senior statesman, was also an advocate of terrorism, when he fought the apartheid regime in South Africa. Marshall Józef Piłsudski, an official hero of today’s liberal-democratic Poland, was also a terrorist in his youth, when he used to rob the Russian trains in order to finance his militant underground socialist organisation.
and war as an extensions of politics”). Osama Bin Ladin was for long time the most hated person in the west, and especially in the United States of America. However, not so long time ago, Yaser Arafat was
such a person, and in the 1940s, Menachem Begin and Yitzak Shamir, later Israeli Prime Ministers, were also regarded by the British as the common terrorists, enemies of the British people and the leaders of
terrorist organisations. Nelson Mandela, later a revered senior statesman, was also an advocate of terrorism, when he fought the apartheid regime in South Africa. Marshall Józef Piłsudski, an official hero of today’s liberal-democratic Poland, was also a terrorist in his youth, when he used to rob the Russian trains in order to finance his militant underground socialist organisation.
Research Interests:
A pension system is understood here as a superannuation or retirement system, i.e. a kind of arrangement (voluntary or not) between the insurer (pension provider) and a customer (future beneficiary), with a purpose to provide the customer... more
A pension system is understood here as a superannuation or retirement system, i.e. a kind of arrangement (voluntary or not) between the insurer (pension provider) and a customer (future beneficiary), with a purpose to provide the customer (who is, when receiving a pension, called pensioner or retiree) with an income when he or she will be no longer earning a regular income from employment. Such systems may be set up by the state, employers, insurance companies, employers’ associations or employees’ associations, such as trade unions. From technical point of view retirement pensions are a kind of guaranteed life annuity, insuring against the ‘risk’ of longevity.
the Buzek government decided to privatize pensions in Poland, relying on the pseudo-scientific theories peddled by the supporters of abandoning the system based on repartition, and yielding to
pressure from the World Bank, IMF and American authorities. This privatization was based on the so-called Open Pension Funds.
the Buzek government decided to privatize pensions in Poland, relying on the pseudo-scientific theories peddled by the supporters of abandoning the system based on repartition, and yielding to
pressure from the World Bank, IMF and American authorities. This privatization was based on the so-called Open Pension Funds.
Research Interests:
Lem's most important study of science fiction Fantastyka i futurologia (Fantastic Literature and Futurology, 1970) contains a very detailed analysis of (mostly English language) science fiction (SF) literature, described by Lem as a... more
Lem's most important study of science fiction Fantastyka i futurologia (Fantastic Literature and Futurology, 1970) contains a very detailed analysis of (mostly English language) science fiction (SF) literature, described by Lem as a "marriage of Einstein with Scheherazade". It is also an attempt to create an empirical theory of SF. This theory was intended to be a part of his more general `empirical theory of
literature', as outlined in the earlier Filozofia przypadku (Philosophy of Chance).
Fantastyka i futurologia (referred in this paper as FiF) is certainly not well known even in Lem's native Poland, so it should be no surprise that it was translated into only one principal foreign language. The main reason for this book's relative obscurity is its unusual status: a major theoretical treatise on a subject which was regarded (even in the 1970s) in most of the European academic circles as unworthy of any serious
analysis. Thus people who were capable of fully understanding and appreciating FiF were actually so prejudiced that they did not bother to publish a critical analysis or even a review. On the other hand, the book was too academic and theoretical not only for the `ordinary' readers of SF, but also for critics of the genre and even fanzine editors.
If FiF was translated into the English language, then there could be a chance for some critical reception. Unfortunately, there was no publisher prepared to take a risk and finance such a project. At the moment (in the early 2000s) there are only a few chapters available in English, and they are scattered around various periodicals (such as Science-Fiction Studies, further referred in this paper as S-FS) and collections
(such as Microworlds), hence it is very difficult for non-Polish speakers to fully appreciate Lem's contribution to the analysis of the genre. As Lem's theory of SF is well-written, innovative, passed well the test of time, and (above all) can be regarded as the most important key to his own SF and futurology, it actually deserves more attention than any of his other works.
The first volume of FiF, which is a subject of this paper, is titled `Structures'. It contains some highly theoretical reasoning on SF, which was (especially when it was originally published in 1970) without a precedent not only in Poland and the other countries of the former Soviet Bloc, but also in the West. The second volume is titled `Problem Fields of Fantastics'. It contains a detailed discussion of the major subjects
of the genre and a critique of the way those subjects have been handled by the authors and critics. Because of political constraints, Lem discusses mostly Western writings, but this does not mean that he ignored his Eastern European colleagues - see, for example, his essay `About the Strugatsky's Roadside Picnic'.
FiF is a continuation of the earlier study `SF' printed in 1962 in his collection of studies and essays Wejście na orbitę (Getting into Orbit). In this early study Lem rigorously investigated the theoretical basis of the genre, analysed in detail its major topics and themes and strongly criticised the SF prose written in the US and the UK between the early 1940s and late 1960s. According to Lem this Anglo-American SF was much more fictional than scientific, and thus akin to fairy tales for older children.
literature', as outlined in the earlier Filozofia przypadku (Philosophy of Chance).
Fantastyka i futurologia (referred in this paper as FiF) is certainly not well known even in Lem's native Poland, so it should be no surprise that it was translated into only one principal foreign language. The main reason for this book's relative obscurity is its unusual status: a major theoretical treatise on a subject which was regarded (even in the 1970s) in most of the European academic circles as unworthy of any serious
analysis. Thus people who were capable of fully understanding and appreciating FiF were actually so prejudiced that they did not bother to publish a critical analysis or even a review. On the other hand, the book was too academic and theoretical not only for the `ordinary' readers of SF, but also for critics of the genre and even fanzine editors.
If FiF was translated into the English language, then there could be a chance for some critical reception. Unfortunately, there was no publisher prepared to take a risk and finance such a project. At the moment (in the early 2000s) there are only a few chapters available in English, and they are scattered around various periodicals (such as Science-Fiction Studies, further referred in this paper as S-FS) and collections
(such as Microworlds), hence it is very difficult for non-Polish speakers to fully appreciate Lem's contribution to the analysis of the genre. As Lem's theory of SF is well-written, innovative, passed well the test of time, and (above all) can be regarded as the most important key to his own SF and futurology, it actually deserves more attention than any of his other works.
The first volume of FiF, which is a subject of this paper, is titled `Structures'. It contains some highly theoretical reasoning on SF, which was (especially when it was originally published in 1970) without a precedent not only in Poland and the other countries of the former Soviet Bloc, but also in the West. The second volume is titled `Problem Fields of Fantastics'. It contains a detailed discussion of the major subjects
of the genre and a critique of the way those subjects have been handled by the authors and critics. Because of political constraints, Lem discusses mostly Western writings, but this does not mean that he ignored his Eastern European colleagues - see, for example, his essay `About the Strugatsky's Roadside Picnic'.
FiF is a continuation of the earlier study `SF' printed in 1962 in his collection of studies and essays Wejście na orbitę (Getting into Orbit). In this early study Lem rigorously investigated the theoretical basis of the genre, analysed in detail its major topics and themes and strongly criticised the SF prose written in the US and the UK between the early 1940s and late 1960s. According to Lem this Anglo-American SF was much more fictional than scientific, and thus akin to fairy tales for older children.
Research Interests:
Stanisław Lem is known in the English-speaking countries virtually only as a Science Fiction (SF) writer. This is despite the fact that two of his best non-fantastic novels were translated into English,1 and his numerous critical papers... more
Stanisław Lem is known in the English-speaking countries virtually only as a Science Fiction (SF) writer. This is despite the fact that two of his best non-fantastic novels were translated into English,1 and his numerous critical papers and reviews published in such periodicals as Science-Fiction Studies.2 This is in significant contrast to Lem’s reception in countries such as Germany (with no significant difference between the eastern and western lands), the former Soviet Union and, of course, his native Poland. The reasons for such a phenomenon are manifold. The most important seems to be the high level of commercialisation of SF in the English-speaking countries, especially in the US. Another is the popular misconception (quite common even in the literary circles of America) that since SF is only a popular genre, with very lowly origins in so-called pulp magazines and comics, no SF writer can be seriously regarded as a true artist. Obviously, there are many exceptions to this rule. First, some SF writers are indeed regarded seriously by the critics (for example Kurt Vonnegut). Secondly, some prominent authors are not regarded as writing SF, in spite of the fact that they really write in this genre. Aldous Huxley and George Orwell are the most striking examples of this popular misconception. The reasons for such an artificial and obviously incorrect classification are manifold, and beyond the scope of this paper. Therefore I shall only mention that after H.G. Wells and Karel Čapek, virtually none of the SF writers (including such outstanding authors as Olaf Stapledon) was regarded as a “high-brow” artist.
"Non-Science Fiction Prose of Stanisław Lem" ("Niefantastyczna proza Stanisława Lema") in: The Soviet and Post-Soviet Review Vol. 29, Nr 3/2002 pp. 241-256
Research Interests:
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE FICTION OF THE STRUGATSKI BROTHERS - Occasional Paper No. 14, Polish Studies, Department of German Studies and Slavic Studies, Slavic Section, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria Australia, 1997
Research Interests:
"Lem’s Theory of Science Fiction: Structures and Sociology of the Genre" ("Teoria fantastyki naukowej Lema: struktury i socjologia gatunku") in: Australian Slavonic and East European Studies Vol. 17, Nr 1-2/2003 pp. 47-77
Research Interests:
Stanisław Lem jako pisarz polityczny w: Acta Polonica Monashiensis Vol. 1, Nr 1/2001 pp. 95-121.
Research Interests:
Theory of SF literature. Originally in
Polish Studies, Department of German Studies and Slavic Studies
Slavic Section, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 1 Occasional Paper No. 11, 1997
Polish Studies, Department of German Studies and Slavic Studies
Slavic Section, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 1 Occasional Paper No. 11, 1997
Research Interests:
Introduction to "Solaris" by Stanisław Lem. The original text was to be published in "Życie Literackie" in a cycle “Nowe lektury szkolne” (“New Reading List for High Schools”). It should be also noted that in the late 1950’s and early... more
Introduction to "Solaris" by Stanisław Lem. The original text was to be published in "Życie Literackie" in a cycle “Nowe lektury szkolne” (“New Reading List for High Schools”). It should be also noted that in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Lem’s socrealistic SF novel "Obłok Magellana" (“Magellanic Cloud”) was a mandatory item on the high school reading list. This essay was published in Polish (in an abridged version) in the collection “Lektury licealisty. Szkice” (“Lectures of a High School Student. Essays”) edited by W. Pykosz and L. Bugajski, Wrocław, Ossolineum, 1986 pp. 137-149. Its full version was originally printed
in “Życie Literackie” No. 48 of 1983.
in “Życie Literackie” No. 48 of 1983.
Research Interests:
This is as first version of my filmography of Stanisław Lem. Originally published in "Acta Polonica Monashiensis" Vol. 2, Nr 2/2003 pp. 183-198.
This is an original version from year 2003. Updated version will be published in 2021.
Альманах Еврика 90 Частина 2. Все про людину Чому ми такі, які є? Підтюпцем до розуму Eureka Almanac 90 Part 2. All about man Why are we the way we are? Jogging to the mind Паралельний текст українською та англійською мовами Parallel... more
Альманах Еврика 90 Частина 2. Все про людину
Чому ми такі, які є? Підтюпцем до розуму
Eureka Almanac 90 Part 2. All about man
Why are we the way we are? Jogging to the mind
Паралельний текст українською та англійською мовами
Parallel Ukrainian and English text
Составитель В. Ксионжек
Compiler V. Ksionzhek (Książek)
Переклад Леха Келлера
Translated by Lech Keller
Техніка - молоді, 1988, № 12, с. 40-42
Technique for Youth, 1988, No. 12, pp. 40-42
Чому ми такі, які є? Підтюпцем до розуму
Eureka Almanac 90 Part 2. All about man
Why are we the way we are? Jogging to the mind
Паралельний текст українською та англійською мовами
Parallel Ukrainian and English text
Составитель В. Ксионжек
Compiler V. Ksionzhek (Książek)
Переклад Леха Келлера
Translated by Lech Keller
Техніка - молоді, 1988, № 12, с. 40-42
Technique for Youth, 1988, No. 12, pp. 40-42
Research Interests:
Niestety, ale niemalże cała ta książka jest w zasadzie tylko plagiatem, gdyż zawiera one głównie teksty Lema z mało profesjonalnym komentarzem Orlińskiego. Jest ona także jednym wielkim zakłamaniem, gdyż próbuje ona ukryć fakt, że... more
Niestety, ale niemalże cała ta książka jest w zasadzie tylko plagiatem, gdyż zawiera one głównie teksty Lema z mało profesjonalnym komentarzem Orlińskiego. Jest ona także jednym wielkim zakłamaniem, gdyż próbuje ona ukryć fakt, że Stanisław Lem był bardzo długo pupilkiem komunistycznego, PRL-owskiego reżimu. Podobno o zmarłych powinno się mówić dobrze albo wcale, ale co wtedy moglibyśmy powiedzieć o Hitlerze, Stalinie, obu Napoleonach (I i III) czy też np. o Dżyngis Chanie? Niestety, ale znalezienie jądra prawdy o Lemie, jest obecnie dość trudne, jako iż wciąż nie ma ogólnie dostępnego muzeum Lema z odpowiednią biblioteką a dostęp do archiwów Lema jest wciąż zastrzeżony w praktyce tylko dla grona "krewnych i znajomych" syna Stanisława Lema oraz byłego sekretarza osobistego Pisarza, czyli dla zakłamanych karierowiczów typu Orlińskiego. Ale to nie usprawiedliwia przecież Orlińskiego, który miał takowy dostęp, ale wykorzystał go głównie dla zakłamania prawdy o Pisarzu.
Research Interests:
I concentrate, with exception of “The Hunt”, on quality of translation, not on quality of original texts by Stanisław Lem.
Research Interests:
This book is a result of the 2016 Lemological Congress organised in Wrocław, Poland. Representatives of various disciplines - astronomers, mathematicians, computer scientists, biologists, literary scholars, linguists, philosophers,... more
This book is a result of the 2016 Lemological Congress organised in Wrocław, Poland. Representatives of various disciplines - astronomers, mathematicians, computer scientists, biologists, literary scholars, linguists, philosophers, film scholars and musicians discussed Stanisław Lem’s work. One of the book’s chapters is a conversation between authors who were shaped by Lem’s writing - including the most popular author of Polish fantasy, Andrzej Sapkowski. Lem: Reactivation. The Lemological Congress is, despite its obvious shortcomings, which will be analysed in this text, an interesting position for Lem’s fans and lemologists. Generally, it is however, a wasted opportunity to present most important aspects of Lem the man and his writings as both editor and debaters tried to be politically correct above all and thus avoided most of controversies surrounding Stanisław Lem and his writings.
Research Interests:
Omawiam tu trzy książki poświęcone różnorakim aspektom twórczości Stanisława Lema, które łączy głównie fakt, iż wszystkie one zajmują się filozoficznymi (w przypadku Oramusa także religijnymi) aspektami twórczości Lema, oraz iż ukazały... more
Omawiam tu trzy książki poświęcone różnorakim aspektom twórczości Stanisława Lema, które łączy głównie fakt, iż wszystkie one zajmują się filozoficznymi (w przypadku Oramusa także religijnymi) aspektami twórczości Lema, oraz iż ukazały się one wszystkie już po śmierci autora, którego twórczość one analizują. Już na wstępie chciałbym zaznaczyć, iż tylko jedna z nich (Majewskiego), może uchodzić za udaną. Ale przejdźmy, jak to Lem zwykł był pisać, ad rem 1. Paweł Majewski "Między zwierzęciem a maszyną. Utopia technologiczna Stanisława Lema" Majewskiemu, jako jedynemu z trzech omawianych tu autorów, udało się napisać zwięzłą i interesującą książkę o Lemie 2. Jest to także, co jest chyba najważniejsze, jedyne wśród recenzowanych tu opracowań, które wnosi nowe elementy do lemologii, rozumianej szeroko jako interdyscyplinarna dyscyplina traktująca o różnorakich aspektach twórczości Stanisława Lema. Majewski miał oczywiście ułatwione zadanie w stosunku do Płazy, jako iż ten pierwszy omawia "tylko" dwie książki Lema, a mianowicie Dialogi i Summę technologiae, zaś ten drugi prawie całą twórczość Lema (poza najwcześniejszymi i najpóźniejszymi utworami tegoż autora).
Research Interests:
This book refers to events in year 1940, when Soviet Union took over the Baltic states. Soviet historians insisted for many years, that the Baltic republics had voluntarily requested incorporation into the USSR. Professor Senn strongly... more
This book refers to events in year 1940, when Soviet Union took over the Baltic states. Soviet historians insisted for many years, that the Baltic republics had voluntarily requested incorporation into the USSR. Professor Senn strongly disagrees with this point of view, and defends a, basically indisputable thesis, that this incorporation was indeed an involuntary one. The strength of the book is based mostly on its vivid description of the disintegration and collapse of the old Smetona regime. Author uses variety of sources, mostly Lithuanian and Soviet, but also German and even Polish. The book is written in good English, and makes a fascinating reading and invaluable source of references to anyone interested in history of Eastern Europe in the 20 th century.
Research Interests:
Niestety, ale nie jest to rzetelna biografia Stanisława Lema. Zacznijmy może od tytułu, który jest wręcz kłamliwy, gdyż Stanisław Lem nie został wypędzony ze Lwowa , a tylko wyjechał z niego dobrowolnie, wraz ze swoim mieniem, w ramach... more
Niestety, ale nie jest to rzetelna biografia Stanisława Lema. Zacznijmy może od tytułu, który jest wręcz kłamliwy, gdyż Stanisław Lem nie został wypędzony ze Lwowa , a tylko wyjechał z niego dobrowolnie, wraz ze swoim mieniem, w ramach zorganizowanej repatriacji, gdyż wolał zamieszkać w Polsce a nie na radzieckiej wówczas Ukrainie. W odróżnieniu od Niemców, którzy byli rzeczywiście wypędzeni przez zwycięskich Aliantów ze Śląska, Pomorza, Mazur i Warmii, Stanisław Lem i jego rodzice mieli możliwość legalnego pozostania we Lwowie, gdzie zresztą pisarz studiował medycynę, a jego ojciec pracował jako lekarz, poprzez przyjęcie obywatelstwa ZSRR. Tak zrobiło zresztą wówczas wielu Polaków, a niektórzy z nich wracali do Polski, zresztą znów na 100% legalnie, np. za wczesnego Gomułki czy też po roku 1989. Przecież wielu Polaków wciąż mieszka na Litwie, Ukrainie i Białorusi a nawet w Kazachstanie i w innych republikach byłego Związku Radzieckiego. Natomiast tylko nieliczni autochtoni pochodzenia słowiańskiego ze Śląska, Pomorza, Mazur i Warmii, mieli możliwość uniknięcia deportacji poprzez wystąpienie o przyznanie im polskiego obywatelstwa.
Pomijam tu też cały rozdział „Historia rodzina”, jako iż on właściwie nic nie wnosi do biografii pisarza, poza potwierdzeniem oczywistego przecież faktu, że był on Żydem, ale to graniczy u Gajewskiej wręcz z rasizmem i antysemityzmem, gdyż podkreśla ona na niemalże każdej stronie tego rozdziału (i nie tylko tego) żydowskość Lema, której się on przecież praktycznie przez całe swoje dorosłe życie wypierał, a wcześniej nie zdawał sobie z niej w pełni sprawy.
Także stwierdzenie żony syna pisarza o tym, że ojciec jej męża, czyli Samuel Le(h)m był niemalże siłą wcielony do UB, czyli Urzędu Bezpieczeństwa - zbrodniczej organizacji - stalinowskiej policji politycznej, czyli polskiego odpowiednika Czeka, NKWD i Gestapo, i że nic on tam złego nie uczynił , jest mniej warte tylko od podobnego stwierdzenia jego żony czy matki. Szkoda, więc, że matka Samuela Le(h)ma nie dożyła XXI wieku, gdyż wtedy też pewnie oświadczyła by ona, że owszem, jej ukochany syn był w UB, ale tylko w orkiestrze, sekretariacie czy kuchni. Ale tak, to się tłumaczyli SS-mani z załogi niemieckich obozów zagłady w Auschwitz Birkenau, Treblince czy też w Majdanku (Lublinie), a więc trudno jest wziąć takie wytłumaczenie na serio. Zresztą bez sekretariatu czy kuchni to taki obóz nie mógłby działać, podobnie jak i bez lekarzy a nawet jeśli była tam też i orkiestra, to jeśli tam była, to znaczy, że uznana była ona jako niezbędna do funkcjonowania takiego obozu, np. w celach propagandowych, albo zagłuszania jęków torturowanych czy też mordowanych więźniów. Podobnie było też z lekarzami-bez lekarzy, to UB działać przecież nie mogło, gdyż lekarze byli tam potrzebni nie tylko do leczenia funkcjonariuszy UB, ale także np. wystawiania świadectw zgonu ich ofiarom i doprowadzania przesłuchiwanych przez UB do stanu zdolności do składania zeznań, a specjalistą w tej dziedzinie był przecież nikt inny, jak dr Gangel - protektor Samuela Lema w służbie zdrowia UB. Poza tym, to nie jest prawdą, że Samuel Lem mógł znaleźć pracę tylko w UB, jaki iż po wojnie to w Polsce brakowało, i to wręcz desperacko lekarzy, a więc pracy dla niego było wówczas aż nadto, a wybrał on UB, gdyż po prostu UB zaoferowało mu wówczas najlepsze warunki pracy, w tym materialne.
Pomijam tu też cały rozdział „Historia rodzina”, jako iż on właściwie nic nie wnosi do biografii pisarza, poza potwierdzeniem oczywistego przecież faktu, że był on Żydem, ale to graniczy u Gajewskiej wręcz z rasizmem i antysemityzmem, gdyż podkreśla ona na niemalże każdej stronie tego rozdziału (i nie tylko tego) żydowskość Lema, której się on przecież praktycznie przez całe swoje dorosłe życie wypierał, a wcześniej nie zdawał sobie z niej w pełni sprawy.
Pomijam tu też cały rozdział „Historia rodzina”, jako iż on właściwie nic nie wnosi do biografii pisarza, poza potwierdzeniem oczywistego przecież faktu, że był on Żydem, ale to graniczy u Gajewskiej wręcz z rasizmem i antysemityzmem, gdyż podkreśla ona na niemalże każdej stronie tego rozdziału (i nie tylko tego) żydowskość Lema, której się on przecież praktycznie przez całe swoje dorosłe życie wypierał, a wcześniej nie zdawał sobie z niej w pełni sprawy.
Także stwierdzenie żony syna pisarza o tym, że ojciec jej męża, czyli Samuel Le(h)m był niemalże siłą wcielony do UB, czyli Urzędu Bezpieczeństwa - zbrodniczej organizacji - stalinowskiej policji politycznej, czyli polskiego odpowiednika Czeka, NKWD i Gestapo, i że nic on tam złego nie uczynił , jest mniej warte tylko od podobnego stwierdzenia jego żony czy matki. Szkoda, więc, że matka Samuela Le(h)ma nie dożyła XXI wieku, gdyż wtedy też pewnie oświadczyła by ona, że owszem, jej ukochany syn był w UB, ale tylko w orkiestrze, sekretariacie czy kuchni. Ale tak, to się tłumaczyli SS-mani z załogi niemieckich obozów zagłady w Auschwitz Birkenau, Treblince czy też w Majdanku (Lublinie), a więc trudno jest wziąć takie wytłumaczenie na serio. Zresztą bez sekretariatu czy kuchni to taki obóz nie mógłby działać, podobnie jak i bez lekarzy a nawet jeśli była tam też i orkiestra, to jeśli tam była, to znaczy, że uznana była ona jako niezbędna do funkcjonowania takiego obozu, np. w celach propagandowych, albo zagłuszania jęków torturowanych czy też mordowanych więźniów. Podobnie było też z lekarzami-bez lekarzy, to UB działać przecież nie mogło, gdyż lekarze byli tam potrzebni nie tylko do leczenia funkcjonariuszy UB, ale także np. wystawiania świadectw zgonu ich ofiarom i doprowadzania przesłuchiwanych przez UB do stanu zdolności do składania zeznań, a specjalistą w tej dziedzinie był przecież nikt inny, jak dr Gangel - protektor Samuela Lema w służbie zdrowia UB. Poza tym, to nie jest prawdą, że Samuel Lem mógł znaleźć pracę tylko w UB, jaki iż po wojnie to w Polsce brakowało, i to wręcz desperacko lekarzy, a więc pracy dla niego było wówczas aż nadto, a wybrał on UB, gdyż po prostu UB zaoferowało mu wówczas najlepsze warunki pracy, w tym materialne.
Pomijam tu też cały rozdział „Historia rodzina”, jako iż on właściwie nic nie wnosi do biografii pisarza, poza potwierdzeniem oczywistego przecież faktu, że był on Żydem, ale to graniczy u Gajewskiej wręcz z rasizmem i antysemityzmem, gdyż podkreśla ona na niemalże każdej stronie tego rozdziału (i nie tylko tego) żydowskość Lema, której się on przecież praktycznie przez całe swoje dorosłe życie wypierał, a wcześniej nie zdawał sobie z niej w pełni sprawy.
Research Interests:
Już sam tytuł "Racjonalizm i religia okiem i w duszy Stanisława Lema" zwiastuje, że to nie może być poważna rozprawa naukowa. Po prostu Okołowski wierzy w duchy, a więc to jest tylko wyznanie jego irracjonalnej wiary, a nie poważna... more
Już sam tytuł "Racjonalizm i religia okiem i w duszy Stanisława Lema" zwiastuje, że to nie może być poważna rozprawa naukowa. Po prostu Okołowski wierzy w duchy, a więc to jest tylko wyznanie jego irracjonalnej wiary, a nie poważna rozprawa naukowa.
Research Interests:
Niestety, ale niemalże cała ta książka jest w zasadzie tylko plagiatem, gdyż zawiera one głównie teksty Lema z mało profesjonalnym komentarzem Orlińskiego. Jest ona także jednym wielkim zakłamaniem, gdyż próbuje ona ukryć fakt, że... more
Niestety, ale niemalże cała ta książka jest w zasadzie tylko plagiatem, gdyż zawiera one głównie teksty Lema z mało profesjonalnym komentarzem Orlińskiego. Jest ona także jednym wielkim zakłamaniem, gdyż próbuje ona ukryć fakt, że Stanisław Lem był bardzo długo pupilkiem komunistycznego, PRL-owskiego reżimu. Podobno o zmarłych powinno się mówić dobrze albo wcale, ale co wtedy moglibyśmy powiedzieć o Hitlerze, Stalinie, obu Napoleonach (I i III) czy też np. o Dżyngis Chanie? Niestety, ale znalezienie jądra prawdy o Lemie, jest obecnie dość trudne, jako iż wciąż nie ma ogólnie dostępnego muzeum Lema z odpowiednią biblioteką a dostęp do archiwów Lema jest wciąż zastrzeżony w praktyce tylko dla grona „krewnych i znajomych” syna Stanisława Lema oraz byłego sekretarza osobistego Pisarza, czyli dla zakłamanych karierowiczów typu Orlińskiego. Ale to nie usprawiedliwia przecież Orlińskiego, który miał takowy dostęp, ale wykorzystał go głównie dla zakłamania prawdy o Pisarzu.
Research Interests:
Maciej Parowski Wasz cyrk, moje małpy. Tom 1 - recenzja - https://www.gloskultury.pl/wasz-cyrk-moje-malpy-tom-1-recenzja/
Research Interests:
Review of Stanisław Lem "Swiat na krawedzi (Ze Stanislawem Lemem rozmawia Tomasz Fialkowski)" Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 2001 in:
Acta Polonica Monashiensis Vol. 2, Nr 2/2003 pp. 148-155
Acta Polonica Monashiensis Vol. 2, Nr 2/2003 pp. 148-155
Research Interests:
"The Best Biography of Lem" in: "SF. A Review of Speculative Literature" Vol. 15 No. 1(41) of 1998 pp. 48-50
Subject: A review of Pavel Weigel's Stanisław Lem Životopis (1995, Stanisław Lem. A Biography) Praha: Magnet Press, 1995
Subject: A review of Pavel Weigel's Stanisław Lem Životopis (1995, Stanisław Lem. A Biography) Praha: Magnet Press, 1995
Research Interests:
Review of: Stanisław Lem „Okamgnienie” (Recenzja „Okamgnienia” Stanisława Lema) [Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 2000] in: Science Fiction # 41, Vol. 15, Nr 2/2000 Nedlands (University of Western Australia) pp. 56-58
Research Interests:
Review of Wojciech Kajtoch „O prozie i poezji. Wybór szkiców i esejów
z lat 1980-2010” ("About prose and poetry. Selectuion of sketches and essays 1980-2010") Wydawnictwo Literackie "Li-TWA", Częstochowa, 2011
z lat 1980-2010” ("About prose and poetry. Selectuion of sketches and essays 1980-2010") Wydawnictwo Literackie "Li-TWA", Częstochowa, 2011
Research Interests:
Klasyfikacja ta oparta jest głównie na tematyce danego utworu i jego przeznaczeniu dla określonych czytelników. Nie opiera się on na apriorycznych założeniach a na empirii, czyli obserwacji klasyfikacji gatunków literackich w... more
Klasyfikacja ta oparta jest głównie na tematyce danego utworu i jego przeznaczeniu dla określonych czytelników. Nie opiera się on na apriorycznych założeniach a na empirii, czyli obserwacji klasyfikacji gatunków literackich w księgarniach i bibliotekach.
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Jest to opracowanie poświęcone pamięci dra Romana Zaroffa (1954-2019). Zawiera ono analizę polskiej prasy wydawanej w Australii i krótkie wprowadzenie na temat Polonii australijskiej oraz obszerną bibliografię przedmiotu.
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Alternatywne i przyszłe historii Polski pisane były już na początku XIX wieku (patrz zarys historyczny). Projekt wyobrażonej przyszłości najlepiej jednak widać jest w międzywojennej literaturze fantastycznej, w której potęga militarna... more
Alternatywne i przyszłe historii Polski pisane były już na początku XIX wieku (patrz zarys historyczny). Projekt wyobrażonej przyszłości najlepiej jednak widać jest w międzywojennej literaturze fantastycznej, w której potęga militarna przeplatała się z potęgą kolonialną oraz techniczną a wszystko uzupełniał zaś nowy wzór polskości, oparty jednak na dziewiętnastowiecznych ideałach takich jak nadzwyczajna moralność, bezprzykładna pracowitość i mesjanizm, tyle że w modernistycznym wydaniu. W powieściach fantastycznych kreowano zatem alternatywną historię ostatecznego pokonania wrogów Rzeczypospolitej najczęściej za pomocą potęgi militarnej uzupełnionej techniczną, a konkretnie cudownym wynalazkiem. W fantastyce z czasów PRL-u naturalną koleją rzeczy było zaś powiązanie rozwoju z budową socjalizmu, a współcześnie (początek XXI wieku) dominują znów wątki apokaliptyczne, tyle że bez happy endu, typowego mimo wszytko dla okresu międzywojennego.
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Mój argument jest taki, że interpretacje tej powieści jako ukrytej krytyki PRL-u i tzw. realnego socjalizmu były (i chyba nadal są) bardzo naiwne i płytkie , gdyż dziś, czyli w roku 2023, widzimy, że bardzo podobny system, jak... more
Mój argument jest taki, że interpretacje tej powieści jako ukrytej krytyki PRL-u i tzw. realnego socjalizmu były (i chyba nadal są) bardzo naiwne i płytkie , gdyż dziś, czyli w roku 2023, widzimy, że bardzo podobny system, jak opisany w tej powieści, wprowadzany jest obecnie na tzw. wolnym świecie, czyli kapitalistycznym Zachodzie, np. poprzez stopniową eliminację obrotów gotówkowych, zmuszanie obywateli do zakładania rachunków bankowych, wprowadzanie elektronicznych paszportów i dokumentów tożsamości, instalację zdalnie odczytywanych liczników zużycia energii elektrycznej, gazu czy nawet wody a także masową inwigilację trenów publicznych poprzez licznie zakładane kamery telewizyjne połączone z komputerowymi systemami rozpoznawania twarzy.
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In English: My argument is that the interpretations of this novel and the rest of Zajdel’s mature novels from the sociological-political current as an implicit criticism of the People’s Republic of Poland and so-called “real socialism”... more
In English:
My argument is that the interpretations of this novel and the rest of Zajdel’s mature novels from the sociological-political current as an implicit criticism of the People’s Republic of Poland and so-called “real socialism” (mistakenly named “communism”) were (and probably still are) very naive and shallow. Today, i.e. in the year 2023, we can see that a very similar system to the one described in this book is currently being introduced in the so-called free world, i.e. in the capitalist West. It is done through creation of centralised computerised data banks containing almost all information about subjects of the state (”citizens”), gradual elimination of cash transactions, forcing citizens to set up bank accounts, introducing electronic passports and identity documents, installing remotely read meters for electricity, gas and even water consumption and mass surveillance of public areas through numerous television cameras linked to computerized facial recognition systems..
Po polsku: Mój argument jest taki, że interpretacje tej powieści a także pozostałych „dojrzałych” powieści Zajdla z nurtu socjologiczno-politycznego jako ukrytej krytyki PRL-u i tzw. realnego socjalizmu były (i chyba nadal są) bardzo naiwne i płytkie , gdyż dziś, czyli w roku 2023, widzimy, że bardzo podobny system, jak opisany w tej powieści, wprowadzany jest obecnie na tzw. wolnym świecie, czyli kapitalistycznym Zachodzie, np. poprzez stopniową eliminację obrotów gotówkowych, zmuszanie obywateli do zakładania rachunków bankowych, wprowadzanie elektronicznych paszportów i dokumentów tożsamości, instalację zdalnie odczytywanych liczników zużycia energii elektrycznej, gazu czy nawet wody a także masową inwigilację terenów publicznych poprzez licznie zakładane kamery telewizyjne połączone z komputerowymi systemami rozpoznawania twarzy.
My argument is that the interpretations of this novel and the rest of Zajdel’s mature novels from the sociological-political current as an implicit criticism of the People’s Republic of Poland and so-called “real socialism” (mistakenly named “communism”) were (and probably still are) very naive and shallow. Today, i.e. in the year 2023, we can see that a very similar system to the one described in this book is currently being introduced in the so-called free world, i.e. in the capitalist West. It is done through creation of centralised computerised data banks containing almost all information about subjects of the state (”citizens”), gradual elimination of cash transactions, forcing citizens to set up bank accounts, introducing electronic passports and identity documents, installing remotely read meters for electricity, gas and even water consumption and mass surveillance of public areas through numerous television cameras linked to computerized facial recognition systems..
Po polsku: Mój argument jest taki, że interpretacje tej powieści a także pozostałych „dojrzałych” powieści Zajdla z nurtu socjologiczno-politycznego jako ukrytej krytyki PRL-u i tzw. realnego socjalizmu były (i chyba nadal są) bardzo naiwne i płytkie , gdyż dziś, czyli w roku 2023, widzimy, że bardzo podobny system, jak opisany w tej powieści, wprowadzany jest obecnie na tzw. wolnym świecie, czyli kapitalistycznym Zachodzie, np. poprzez stopniową eliminację obrotów gotówkowych, zmuszanie obywateli do zakładania rachunków bankowych, wprowadzanie elektronicznych paszportów i dokumentów tożsamości, instalację zdalnie odczytywanych liczników zużycia energii elektrycznej, gazu czy nawet wody a także masową inwigilację terenów publicznych poprzez licznie zakładane kamery telewizyjne połączone z komputerowymi systemami rozpoznawania twarzy.
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This text below is my translation to English of short story by Stanisław Lem, titled „Kocioł” (“Boiler”) that was originally published in Twórczość (Creativity) No 9 of 1950 p. 37-49. This is a beginning (with some minor changes) of the... more
This text below is my translation to English of short story by Stanisław Lem, titled „Kocioł” (“Boiler”) that was originally published in Twórczość (Creativity) No 9 of 1950 p. 37-49. This is a beginning (with some minor changes) of the chapter „Stary cmentarz” (“The Old Cemetery”) from the third volume "Powrót" ("Return") of Lem’s socrealistic non-SF trilogy" Czas nieutracony" ("Time not Lost").
Research Interests:
Janusz Andrzej Zajdel was born in Warsaw in 1938 and is known above all to the readers of science fiction. A physicist by profession, he graduated in physics from the University of Warsaw and later worked at the Central Laboratory of... more
Janusz Andrzej Zajdel was born in Warsaw in 1938 and is known above all to the readers of science fiction. A physicist by profession, he graduated in physics from the University of Warsaw and later worked at the Central Laboratory of Radiation Protection (Centralne Laboratorium Ochrony Radiologicznej) in Warsaw in the area of radiation protection and nuclear safety. He was also involved in popularising science and technology in the field of human and environmental protection against ionising radiation. Following the example of other Polish science fiction authors (e.g. A. Wiśniewski-Snerg); he fictionalized his interests and knowledge in the field of science and social sciences and shaped them into SF stories and novels. In 1960, while still a student, he wrote two science-fiction short stories. One of them entitled „Tau Wieloryba” (“Tau Ceti”), was his debut in “Młody Technik” (“Young Technician”) in 1961, where he later printed many more works. His short stories (of which he wrote more than seventy), were also printed in „Astronautyka” (“Astronautics”), „Panorama”, „Perspektywy” (“Perspectives”) „Razem” (“Together”)' and others periodicals. His first book, „Jad mantezji” (“Venom of Mantesia”), a selection of ten short stories, was published in 1965. Zajdel’s short stories have appeared in Russian, Czech and German translations and in science fiction anthologies: „Posłanie z piątej planety” (“A message from the Fifth Planet”), „Wołanie na Mlecznej Drodze” (”Calling on the Milky Way”), „Wehikuł wyobraźni” (”Vehicle of the imagination), „Gość z głębin” (”Visitor from the Deep”), „Stało się jutro” (”It Happened Tomorrow”) and „Kroki w nieznane” (”Steps into the Unknown”) .
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Fotoreportaż z dwóch wizyt na stacji kolei wąskotorowej w Krośniewicach: maj 2009 i sierpień 2022. Photo report from two visits to the narrow-gauge railway station in Krośniewice, Poland: May 2009 and August 2022. The Krosniewicka... more
Fotoreportaż z dwóch wizyt na stacji kolei wąskotorowej w Krośniewicach: maj 2009 i sierpień 2022.
Photo report from two visits to the narrow-gauge railway station in Krośniewice, Poland: May 2009 and August 2022.
The Krosniewicka Narrow Gauge Railway was a key element of the Kujawy Narrow Gauge Railway network, which began to be built in the early. 20th century. with a view to serving sugar factories (mainly transporting sugar beets). The first sugar railways were built in Kujawy between 1907 and 1910, with the line between Krośniewice and Koryta opened in 1910. At that time, tracks were also built on the Krośniewice Town-Ostrowy Narrow Gauge route, which supplied the sugar factory in Ostrowy. After the outbreak of the First World War and the takeover of the railway by the German army, the gauge was changed . In 1914 further lines were built: Krośniewice-Wielka Wieś Kujawska-Cetty-Boniewo. The Krośniewice-Dzierzbice Kutnowskie and Krośniewice-Krzewata and Boniewo-Przystronie routes were also built .
Photo report from two visits to the narrow-gauge railway station in Krośniewice, Poland: May 2009 and August 2022.
The Krosniewicka Narrow Gauge Railway was a key element of the Kujawy Narrow Gauge Railway network, which began to be built in the early. 20th century. with a view to serving sugar factories (mainly transporting sugar beets). The first sugar railways were built in Kujawy between 1907 and 1910, with the line between Krośniewice and Koryta opened in 1910. At that time, tracks were also built on the Krośniewice Town-Ostrowy Narrow Gauge route, which supplied the sugar factory in Ostrowy. After the outbreak of the First World War and the takeover of the railway by the German army, the gauge was changed . In 1914 further lines were built: Krośniewice-Wielka Wieś Kujawska-Cetty-Boniewo. The Krośniewice-Dzierzbice Kutnowskie and Krośniewice-Krzewata and Boniewo-Przystronie routes were also built .
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My theory is that there could be at least two Stanisławs Lems: the „fake” or Wrocław (Breslau) one and the „real” one, or of Kraków (Cracow). Obviously, it is very arbitrary decision, which Lem a was “real” and which “fake”, so I... more
My theory is that there could be at least two Stanisławs Lems: the „fake” or Wrocław (Breslau) one and the „real” one, or of Kraków (Cracow). Obviously, it is very arbitrary decision, which Lem a was “real” and which “fake”, so I decided that te real one was that associated with so called golden period of his writings (roughly 1957-1980 or even shorter), i.e. the Cracow Lem, that is explained below.
The real one was born in Lwów (Lemberg) in wealthy Jewish upper middle class (intelligentsia) family, graduated there from high school and started to study medicine during the Soviet occupation of that city. The fake one was also born in Lwów, educated there (most likely at the same high school and medical school as the real Lem) and so on, but after the war, he took the identity of the real Stanisław Lem, as he was a Gestapo agent in the Lemberg (Lwów) ghetto. They both left Lwów in 1945, so we can find those inconsistencies in dates of the Lems family repatriation to Poland. It is also the reason why the both Lems refused to comment on details of their vicissitudes in Lwów during the Nazi occupation. The fake Stanisław Lem went after the war to Wrocław (Breslau), like the majority of Polish-speaking inhabitants of Lwów, finished medicine there and worked officially as a physician while started collaboration - this time with UB, i.e. the Secret Political Police of the Stalinist Regime, then in command in Poland . The real one moved to Kraków (Cracow) and using help of the fake Stanisław Lem, started a career as a SF writer. The fake Lem paid a lot of money taken from the wealthy Jews in the Lemberg ghetto to the real Lem, so the real (Cracow) Lem was quiet, especially, as the fake i.e. Wrocław Lem helped to father of the real i.e. Cracow Lem to get a job as a physician at the UB hospital in Cracow. Existence of at least two Stanisławs Lems can also explain why the records relating to survival of the liquidation of the Lemberger Ghetto by Stanisław Lem and his parents are so inconsistent and contradict each other, as they confuse the real Lem with his fake double.
The real one was born in Lwów (Lemberg) in wealthy Jewish upper middle class (intelligentsia) family, graduated there from high school and started to study medicine during the Soviet occupation of that city. The fake one was also born in Lwów, educated there (most likely at the same high school and medical school as the real Lem) and so on, but after the war, he took the identity of the real Stanisław Lem, as he was a Gestapo agent in the Lemberg (Lwów) ghetto. They both left Lwów in 1945, so we can find those inconsistencies in dates of the Lems family repatriation to Poland. It is also the reason why the both Lems refused to comment on details of their vicissitudes in Lwów during the Nazi occupation. The fake Stanisław Lem went after the war to Wrocław (Breslau), like the majority of Polish-speaking inhabitants of Lwów, finished medicine there and worked officially as a physician while started collaboration - this time with UB, i.e. the Secret Political Police of the Stalinist Regime, then in command in Poland . The real one moved to Kraków (Cracow) and using help of the fake Stanisław Lem, started a career as a SF writer. The fake Lem paid a lot of money taken from the wealthy Jews in the Lemberg ghetto to the real Lem, so the real (Cracow) Lem was quiet, especially, as the fake i.e. Wrocław Lem helped to father of the real i.e. Cracow Lem to get a job as a physician at the UB hospital in Cracow. Existence of at least two Stanisławs Lems can also explain why the records relating to survival of the liquidation of the Lemberger Ghetto by Stanisław Lem and his parents are so inconsistent and contradict each other, as they confuse the real Lem with his fake double.
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In English: The Great Extermination of Jews during the Second World War, known as the Holocaust or the Shoah, was of course a crime against the Jews, but committed not only by the Germans and their allies - from France and the... more
In English:
The Great Extermination of Jews during the Second World War, known as the Holocaust or the Shoah, was of course a crime against the Jews, but committed not only by the Germans and their allies - from France and the Netherlands through Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Slovakia to Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia - but also by the Jews themselves, just as the Germans committed countless crimes against the German people during the years of NSDAP rule and especially during the Second World War. Representatives of other nations helped in various ways and often under strong pressure to commit crimes against the Jews, but the Poles, unlike the allies of the Third Reich, committed these crimes exceptionally rarely and against the orders of their government in exile. The ghettos were ruled by Jews - the Judenrats, or Jewish councils, and the Odmen, or Jewish policemen, and in the concentration camps themselves, or in fact the extermination camps, the gas chambers and crematorium ovens were manned to a large extent by special units made up of Jewish prisoners. The Germans took great care to ensure that the extermination of Jews was carried out by Jewish hands. Transports from the ghettos to the extermination camps were organised to a large extent by the Jews themselves, i.e. the Judenrats and the Odmen. Outside the walls (entanglements), soldiers from Germany's allies and Ukrainian fascists from the OUN often aided the Germans by catching or killing those who escaped during the liquidation operations.
However, it must be remembered that the Holocaust of European Jews was not the only Holocaust in human history. There is also the Australian Aboriginal Holocaust, the Congolese Negro Holocaust, the American Indian Holocaust, including the crimes of the Conquistadors in Latin America and, last but not least, the famines in Bengal, China, Iran and Soviet Russia - the latter during the period of counter-revolution, civil war and armed Western intervention, including from Poland, and under Stalin's policy of accelerated industrialisation, which was financed under conditions of extreme state capitalism by the rapacious, even slavish exploitation of workers and peasants.
In Polish:
Wielka Zagłada Żydów w kontekście światowej historii Wielka Zagłada Żydów w latach II wojny światowej, zwana Holocaustem albo Szoah ,była oczywiście zbrodnią na Żydach, ale popełnioną nie tylko przez Niemców i ich sojuszników-od Francji i Holandii przez Węgry, Rumunię, Chorwację i Słowację po Ukrainę, Litwę i Łotwę, ale także i przez samych Żydów, analogicznie jak Niemcy dokonali w latach rządów NSDAP, a szczególnie podczas II wojny światowej, niezliczonych zbrodni na narodzie niemieckim. W dokonaniu zbrodni na Żydach w rozmaity sposób i często pod silną presją pomagali przedstawiciele innych narodów, ale Polacy, w odróżnieniu od sojuszników III Rzeszy, popełniali je wyjątkowo rzadko i wbrew rozkazom swojego rządu emigracyjnego. W gettach rządzili zaś Żydzi -Judenraty czyli samorządy żydowskie i odmani - żydowscy policjanci, a w samych obozach koncentracyjnych a właściwie zagłady, to obsługą komór gazowych i pieców krematoryjnych zajmowały się w bardzo dużej mierze specjalne oddziały tworzone z więźniów żydowskich 3. Niemcy bardzo dbali o to, aby eksterminacja Żydów dokonała się rękami Żydów. Wywózki z gett do obozów zagłady organizowane były w dużej mierze przez same służby żydowskie czyli Judenraty i odmanów. Poza murami (zasiekami) często w prześladowaniu Żydów pomagali Niemcom żołnierze z państw będących sojusznikami Niemiec oraz ukraińscy faszyści spod znaku OUN, wyłapując lub zabijając tych, którzy uciekali podczas akcji likwidacyjnych.
Jednakże należy pamiętać, że Holokaust Żydów Europejskich nie był jednym Holokaustem w historii ludzkości. Dochodzą tu też Holocaust Australijskich Aborygenów, Holokaust Murzynów Kongijskich, Holokaust Amerykańskich Indian, w tym także zbrodnie Konkwistadorów w Ameryce Łacińskiej oraz, last but not least, klęski głodu w Bengalu, Chinach, Iranie i Rosji Radzieckiej - ten ostatni w okresie kontrrewolucji, wojny domowej i zbrojnej zachodniej interwencji, w tym też i ze strony Polski oraz w warunkach stalinowskiej polityki przyspieszonej industrializacji, która finansowana była w warunkach skrajnego kapitalizmu państwowego z rabunkowej, wręcz niewolniczej eksploatacji robotników i chłopów.
The Great Extermination of Jews during the Second World War, known as the Holocaust or the Shoah, was of course a crime against the Jews, but committed not only by the Germans and their allies - from France and the Netherlands through Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Slovakia to Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia - but also by the Jews themselves, just as the Germans committed countless crimes against the German people during the years of NSDAP rule and especially during the Second World War. Representatives of other nations helped in various ways and often under strong pressure to commit crimes against the Jews, but the Poles, unlike the allies of the Third Reich, committed these crimes exceptionally rarely and against the orders of their government in exile. The ghettos were ruled by Jews - the Judenrats, or Jewish councils, and the Odmen, or Jewish policemen, and in the concentration camps themselves, or in fact the extermination camps, the gas chambers and crematorium ovens were manned to a large extent by special units made up of Jewish prisoners. The Germans took great care to ensure that the extermination of Jews was carried out by Jewish hands. Transports from the ghettos to the extermination camps were organised to a large extent by the Jews themselves, i.e. the Judenrats and the Odmen. Outside the walls (entanglements), soldiers from Germany's allies and Ukrainian fascists from the OUN often aided the Germans by catching or killing those who escaped during the liquidation operations.
However, it must be remembered that the Holocaust of European Jews was not the only Holocaust in human history. There is also the Australian Aboriginal Holocaust, the Congolese Negro Holocaust, the American Indian Holocaust, including the crimes of the Conquistadors in Latin America and, last but not least, the famines in Bengal, China, Iran and Soviet Russia - the latter during the period of counter-revolution, civil war and armed Western intervention, including from Poland, and under Stalin's policy of accelerated industrialisation, which was financed under conditions of extreme state capitalism by the rapacious, even slavish exploitation of workers and peasants.
In Polish:
Wielka Zagłada Żydów w kontekście światowej historii Wielka Zagłada Żydów w latach II wojny światowej, zwana Holocaustem albo Szoah ,była oczywiście zbrodnią na Żydach, ale popełnioną nie tylko przez Niemców i ich sojuszników-od Francji i Holandii przez Węgry, Rumunię, Chorwację i Słowację po Ukrainę, Litwę i Łotwę, ale także i przez samych Żydów, analogicznie jak Niemcy dokonali w latach rządów NSDAP, a szczególnie podczas II wojny światowej, niezliczonych zbrodni na narodzie niemieckim. W dokonaniu zbrodni na Żydach w rozmaity sposób i często pod silną presją pomagali przedstawiciele innych narodów, ale Polacy, w odróżnieniu od sojuszników III Rzeszy, popełniali je wyjątkowo rzadko i wbrew rozkazom swojego rządu emigracyjnego. W gettach rządzili zaś Żydzi -Judenraty czyli samorządy żydowskie i odmani - żydowscy policjanci, a w samych obozach koncentracyjnych a właściwie zagłady, to obsługą komór gazowych i pieców krematoryjnych zajmowały się w bardzo dużej mierze specjalne oddziały tworzone z więźniów żydowskich 3. Niemcy bardzo dbali o to, aby eksterminacja Żydów dokonała się rękami Żydów. Wywózki z gett do obozów zagłady organizowane były w dużej mierze przez same służby żydowskie czyli Judenraty i odmanów. Poza murami (zasiekami) często w prześladowaniu Żydów pomagali Niemcom żołnierze z państw będących sojusznikami Niemiec oraz ukraińscy faszyści spod znaku OUN, wyłapując lub zabijając tych, którzy uciekali podczas akcji likwidacyjnych.
Jednakże należy pamiętać, że Holokaust Żydów Europejskich nie był jednym Holokaustem w historii ludzkości. Dochodzą tu też Holocaust Australijskich Aborygenów, Holokaust Murzynów Kongijskich, Holokaust Amerykańskich Indian, w tym także zbrodnie Konkwistadorów w Ameryce Łacińskiej oraz, last but not least, klęski głodu w Bengalu, Chinach, Iranie i Rosji Radzieckiej - ten ostatni w okresie kontrrewolucji, wojny domowej i zbrojnej zachodniej interwencji, w tym też i ze strony Polski oraz w warunkach stalinowskiej polityki przyspieszonej industrializacji, która finansowana była w warunkach skrajnego kapitalizmu państwowego z rabunkowej, wręcz niewolniczej eksploatacji robotników i chłopów.
Research Interests:
Oto treść tego przekazu od Ostatniego Ziemianina, przy czym zaznaczamy, że jest to na razie tylko robocza wersja jego tłumaczenia, gdyż na razie nasi eksperci od języków martwych spierają się nawet co do tego, czy poprawna nazwa tej... more
Oto treść tego przekazu od Ostatniego Ziemianina, przy czym zaznaczamy, że jest to na razie tylko robocza wersja jego tłumaczenia, gdyż na razie nasi eksperci od języków martwych spierają się nawet co do tego, czy poprawna nazwa tej planety to jest Gleba czy też raczej Ziemia, gdyż np. w języku lechickim, w którym ów komunikat został oryginalne napisany, "ziemia", tak samo jak w wielu innych językach, w których ów komunikat został wysłany, oznacza to samo co "gleba". Niemniej, uważamy, że naszym obowiązkiem jest podzielić się jak najszybciej tym osiągnięciem z pozostałymi Alde-Barańczykami B, C i D.
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It is about the support that Stanisław Lem received from the communist government of Poland.
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In this place, I wold like to put forward a hypothesis that Snerg was seriously mentally ill for most of his adult life, and that this disease resulted in both his spectacular and short artistic success, as well as his later delusions... more
In this place, I wold like to put forward a hypothesis that Snerg was seriously mentally ill for most of his adult life, and that this disease resulted in both his spectacular and short artistic success, as well as his later delusions against the background of reforms of physics and science in general (in understanding not only exact sciences - see his theory of super-beings43), and which found their clearest formulation in his “Unified Theory of Space-Time” discussed in this paper44. Unfortunately, in Polish culture, which for over a thousand years has been dominated by beliefs derived from the Christian religion in its Roman Catholic form, mental illnesses were and to a large extent are still something of a taboo, “visitation by Satan”, and something not to mentioned in case of the deceased, and thus in the case of Snerg. Thus, it was the religious and cultural taboo of mental illness that made it impossible to fully understand the Snerg phenomenon - an artistically gifted individual, who, however, due to his mental illness not only did not fulfil the hopes that arose after the publication of his opus magnum Robot, but which also led him astray into the pseudoscience and eventually led to his tragic, suicidal death.
As to Lem - he has well hidden his real thoughts on the “universe as a game” theory, presenting it as SF. But knowing him, I think that he has taken it very seriously, and presented it as yet another fantastic idea, because he wanted to avoid ridiculing this pet idea of him by the scientific world.
As to Lem - he has well hidden his real thoughts on the “universe as a game” theory, presenting it as SF. But knowing him, I think that he has taken it very seriously, and presented it as yet another fantastic idea, because he wanted to avoid ridiculing this pet idea of him by the scientific world.
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Żydzi wielokrotnie wysuwają nieprawdziwe oskarżenia przeciw Polakom o rzekomo szeroko rozpowszechnioną kolaborację z Niemcami .konsekwentnie milczą o dwóch bardzo wstydliwych kolaboracjach, w których uczestniczyły niektóre środowiska... more
Żydzi wielokrotnie wysuwają nieprawdziwe oskarżenia przeciw Polakom o rzekomo szeroko rozpowszechnioną kolaborację z Niemcami .konsekwentnie milczą o dwóch bardzo wstydliwych kolaboracjach, w których uczestniczyły niektóre środowiska żydowskie. O kolaboracji dużej części Żydów z Sowietami w latach 1939-1941 i o kolaboracji Judenratów i żydowskiej policji z Niemcami, kolaboracji będącej swoistą żydowską „hańbą domową”. I to nie tylko w Polsce, ale również w wielu innych krajach okupowanej przez Niemców Europy.
Ta kolaboracja części Żydów z Niemcami była tym bardziej szokująca i wstydliwa ze względu na społeczny charakter jej uczestników. W przeciwieństwie bowiem do Polaków, wśród których z Niemcami godzili się na ogół kolaborować głównie ludzie z marginesu społecznego, męty, wśród Żydów na kolaborację poszła duża część elit z tzw. Judenratów (rad żydowskich). Z ostrym potępieniem tej kolaboracji wystąpiła najsłynniejsza żydowska myślicielka XX wieku Hannah Arendt w książce Eichmann w Jerozolimie”.
Ta kolaboracja części Żydów z Niemcami była tym bardziej szokująca i wstydliwa ze względu na społeczny charakter jej uczestników. W przeciwieństwie bowiem do Polaków, wśród których z Niemcami godzili się na ogół kolaborować głównie ludzie z marginesu społecznego, męty, wśród Żydów na kolaborację poszła duża część elit z tzw. Judenratów (rad żydowskich). Z ostrym potępieniem tej kolaboracji wystąpiła najsłynniejsza żydowska myślicielka XX wieku Hannah Arendt w książce Eichmann w Jerozolimie”.
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Contrary to conventional opinion, Lem's uniqueness and greatness did not in any way result from the accuracy of his forecasts for the future. It is the truth that the so-called SF fans, especially those organized in Poland around the... more
Contrary to conventional opinion, Lem's uniqueness and greatness did not in any way result from the accuracy of his forecasts for the future. It is the truth that the so-called SF fans, especially those organized in Poland around the monthly magazines Fantastyka and Nowa Fantastyka tried to judge him in this way, and that this "disease" did not spare the environment of Cracow's Wydawnictwo Literackie, which organized in 2016 the pseudo-scientific conference "Czy Lem był ostatnim futurologiem?" ("Was Lem the last futurologist?"), attended, among others, by Jerzy Jarzębski and Jacek Dukaj. It was led by Wojciech Orliński, who earlier stated in Gazeta Wyborcza (6 August 2013) that "Anyway 22, that is, Lem predicted everything" ("Tak czy owak 22, czyli Lem wszystko przewidział"), including that "... in the 21 st century we will be afraid of methods of combating terrorism no less than of terrorism itself." The last statement was, of course, true, but, unfortunately, the vast majority of lemologists still confuse the genre of SF literature, with futurology, i.e. according to Wikipedia "science dealing with predicting and forecasting the future, including in the field of technology, natural growth, economy, geopolitics, culture or the natural environment" 1. The reason is that the belles-lettres 2 do not create real worlds, but only virtual worlds. In the worlds created by fictional literature, people often speak in verse, although in the real world they usually speak in prose, as it was found a long time ago, in 1670, by Molière or Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in his famous comedy Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman or The Middle-Class Aristocrat or The Would-Be Noble). The protagonist of this play is surprised and delighted when he learns that he has been speaking in prose all his life: "Par ma foi! Il y a plus de quarante ans que je dis de la prose sans que j'en susse rien" ("Good heavens! For more than forty years I have been speaking prose without knowing it").
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At this place I would like to analyse in more detail Lem's fall as a writer, the fall that began after he published in 1987 his last science fiction novels Fiasco (Fiasco) and Peace on Earth (Pokój na Ziemi). Only two years after the... more
At this place I would like to analyse in more detail Lem's fall as a writer, the fall that began after he published in 1987 his last science fiction novels Fiasco (Fiasco) and Peace on Earth (Pokój na Ziemi). Only two years after the publication of these books, the Soviet ("communist') system collapsed in Poland, but also and definitely, Lem's creative vein ended. His collections of essays published after year 1990, such as Lube czasy (1995, The Pleasant Times), Tajemnica chińskiego pokoju (1996, Secret of the Chinese Room), Sex Wars (1996), Dziury w całym (1997, Holes in the Whole), Bomba megabitowa (1999, Megabyte Bomb), Okamgnienie (2000, The Twinkling of an Eye), Dylematy (2003, Dilemmas), Krótkie zwarcia (2004, Short Circuits) and especially Rasa drapieżców. Teksty ostatnie (2006, The Race of Predators. The Last Texts) are of almost unbelievably low quality, especially compared to the generally high quality of his earlier works, especially those written in the 1960s and 1970s.
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In 1979 comes another oil crisis lasting more or less until 1982 and resulting from the support of the West (mainly the USA) for the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Iranian revolution caused mainly by brutal rule of the Shah,... more
In 1979 comes another oil crisis lasting more or less until 1982 and resulting from the support of the West (mainly the USA) for the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Iranian revolution caused mainly by brutal rule of the Shah, which revolution led to the transformation of Iran from corrupted monarchy, completely dependent on the West into an independent Islamic republic. This resulted in the deepening of the global economic crisis, which basically continues to this day (2021) and which caused also economic collapse in Poland - country that at that time was strongly dependent on economic cooperation with the West.
In a letter to SF Commentary, Stanisław Lem wrote that he no longer reads SF. Lem was considered this year as one of the Polish candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature, but ultimately it was awarded to Czesław Miłosz for mainly political reasons. It was then considered on the so-called West, that Lem was too little opposed to the authorities of the People’s Republic of Poland to deserve this, in reality very much political prize.
In a letter to SF Commentary, Stanisław Lem wrote that he no longer reads SF. Lem was considered this year as one of the Polish candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature, but ultimately it was awarded to Czesław Miłosz for mainly political reasons. It was then considered on the so-called West, that Lem was too little opposed to the authorities of the People’s Republic of Poland to deserve this, in reality very much political prize.
Research Interests: Jewish Studies, Contemporary Polish Literature, Science fictional technology, Science Fiction, History of Poland in twentieth century, and 3 morePolitics of Poland, Central and Eastern European History / Studies, Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies, Nationalism History / Studies, Modern European History / Studies., and Lemology
In 1970, there were in Poland so-called December events (series of strikes caused by inflation and shortage of consumer goods), and as a result, on 20th December that year, Edward Gierek became the First Secretary of the Central Committee... more
In 1970, there were in Poland so-called December events (series of strikes caused by inflation and shortage of consumer goods), and as a result, on 20th December that year, Edward Gierek became the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party, replacing Władysław Gomułka, who was removed from power. In the same year, Stanisław Lem receives from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Polish People’s Republic an award of popularizing Polish culture abroad. This year he published Fantastyka i futurologia (Science Fiction and Futurology) - his quite valuable dissertation on science-fiction literature.
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After finishing his utopian The Magellan Nebula in 1953, Stanisław Lem was no longer an orthodox socrealistic optimist. Although his first dystopian novel Eden was written in the summer of 1958, the first five basically dystopian voyages... more
After finishing his utopian The Magellan Nebula in 1953, Stanisław Lem was no longer an orthodox socrealistic optimist. Although his first dystopian novel Eden was written in the summer of 1958, the first five basically dystopian voyages of Ijon Tichy (Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and even Twenty-sixth) were published as early as in 1954. The major reasons of this radical change were twofold: 1 Szczepański had his home there, where he rested and met his friends. The house in Kasinka was bought by his from the founders of the YMCA camp. The building burned down in the 1930s, but the owners managed to rebuild it.
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Although socialist realism (in short socrealism) was not born in Poland 1949 in Szczecin, during the Polish Writers Association’s 4th Congress, of but in 1934 in Moscow at the 1st Congress of Soviet Writers, where it was fully expressed... more
Although socialist realism (in short socrealism) was not born in Poland 1949 in Szczecin, during the Polish Writers Association’s 4th Congress, of but in 1934 in Moscow at the 1st Congress of Soviet Writers, where it was fully expressed in the papers of Maxim Gorky and Andrei Zhdanov, the process of transplanting it into Polish soil took a long time, as the elements of socialist realism had already appeared in the works of the revolutionary current and in the prose of social realism before the war . In the years of World War II, socrealism more boldly came to light in the pages of Polish Soviet magazines, such as Almanach Literacki (Literary Almanach) and Nowe Widnokręgi (New Horizons). After the war it was implemented gradually, which is documented by party-controlled literary discussions and numerous works written before 1949, documenting the process of writers “sailing to the wind of great change”. Lem’s socrealistic Hospital of the Transfiguration was thus not built in a vacuum. Its immediate historical and literary context is a group of novels written between 1946 and 1948, often referred to as “settling of accounts by the intelligentsia”. The protagonist of the Hospital of the Transfiguration and the whole trilogy is Stefan Trzyniecki, an anaemic and lonely doctor from a land gentry family, who by working in a hospital tries to overcome the tendency to isolationism, and in the following volumes of Time not Lost paves his way to socialism. It is an attempt to analyse the attitude of the Polish intelligentsia when faced with new historical or social phenomena that overwhelm them. Polish critics unanimously emphasized that the prose of this trend is characterized by a kind of ambivalence: its heroes do not want and are unable to break out of the intelligentsia world of concepts and values, but their stubbornness and faithfulness to the existing ideals leads them to failure, disgrace or non-compliance. They fail when faced with reality, which proves the weakness of their characters or their inability to reconcile their own ideals with the rapidly changing world.
Until the end of Stalinism in the People’s Republic of Poland, i.e. up to almost year 1956, socrealism was an official cultural policy of the country. Writers and poets such as Nobel Prize winner Wisława Szymborska created works glorifying Joseph Stalin, the Communist doctrine, and the Polish United Workers’ Party. However, following Stalin’s death, there were some critical opinions expressed about such literature, but Socialist realism was still being practised until the 1956 Polish October, when the policy was finally abandoned . Stanislaw Lm was no exception to this trend, so it is worth to get acquainted his literary output from this period, also because this rather “exotic” literature, especially from the Western point of view, appeared in Poland during the Cold War, which according to some symptoms and experts, could be returning in the third decade of the 21st century. Therefore, I present here characteristic quotations from this period of Lem’s work.
Until the end of Stalinism in the People’s Republic of Poland, i.e. up to almost year 1956, socrealism was an official cultural policy of the country. Writers and poets such as Nobel Prize winner Wisława Szymborska created works glorifying Joseph Stalin, the Communist doctrine, and the Polish United Workers’ Party. However, following Stalin’s death, there were some critical opinions expressed about such literature, but Socialist realism was still being practised until the 1956 Polish October, when the policy was finally abandoned . Stanislaw Lm was no exception to this trend, so it is worth to get acquainted his literary output from this period, also because this rather “exotic” literature, especially from the Western point of view, appeared in Poland during the Cold War, which according to some symptoms and experts, could be returning in the third decade of the 21st century. Therefore, I present here characteristic quotations from this period of Lem’s work.
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In 1944, Lvov was liberated from the German occupation by the Soviet Army. The Lem family moved then from Zielona Street to Sykstuska Street, as the apartment on Brajerowska Street was then taken by someone else. Stanisław Lem resumed... more
In 1944, Lvov was liberated from the German occupation by the Soviet Army. The Lem family moved then from Zielona Street to Sykstuska Street, as the apartment on Brajerowska Street was then taken by someone else. Stanisław Lem resumed then his interrupted studies at the Lvov Medical Institute, where he was admitted for the second year of studies. He worked scientifically as a junior assistant (volunteer) at the Chair of Normal Physiology of the Lvov Medical Institute under the supervision of Professor Anatol Markovitch Vorobiov, former assistant of the Nobel Prize winner Ivan Pavlov. At that time, he was working on the issue of infrared radiation as an indicator of the functioning of the central nervous system, and he also began experimental research on the topic “Possibilities of creating a galvanic conditioned reflex in a frog” . He also received from the Soviet authorities a scholarship of 150 roubles per month for his excellent results in study and research.
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Working for Germans in Lvov, especially in a company working directly for the Wehrmacht or the Luftwaffe, was obviously a kind of collaboration, for which it is difficult to condemn Lem. However, to work in such a company as a formally... more
Working for Germans in Lvov, especially in a company working directly for the Wehrmacht or the Luftwaffe, was obviously a kind of collaboration, for which it is difficult to condemn Lem. However, to work in such a company as a formally free man (if anyone in these times and in this place he could say that he was a free man), he must have had 100% certain Aryan papers. How it could be possible? Well, most likely thanks to his father, Samuel Le(h)m, who was an Austrian officer, military doctor during World War I, decorated with the Golden Cross of Merit on a Medal for Bravery (das Goldenes Verdienstkreuz am Bande der Tapferkeitsmedaille). The fact is that thousands of Jews fought in the armed forces of the Third Reich. Although most of them just to survive, some of them even admitted that had it not been for Hitler’s anti-Semitism, they would have become zealous Nazis. For example, the American historian Dr. Bryan Mark Rigg wrote about it, according to whom at least 150,000 Jews and Germans with Jewish roots served in the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS. i.e. the military branch of the German Nazi Party‘s SS organisation.
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Professor Agnieszka Gajewska omitted in her book "Holocaust and stars. The Past in the Prose of Stanisław Lem"1 a very important fact, namely that Stanisław Lem’s father, i.e. doctor Samuel Le(h)m MD, PhD was from 1st October 1945 until... more
Professor Agnieszka Gajewska omitted in her book "Holocaust and stars. The Past in the Prose of Stanisław Lem"1 a very important fact, namely that Stanisław Lem’s father, i.e. doctor Samuel Le(h)m MD, PhD was from 1st October 1945 until his death, i.e. 5th January 1954, full-time officer of the Stalinist State Security Office (UB).
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It is about non-scientific Theory of Everything of Polish SF writer Adam Snerg-Wiśniewski of "Robot" fame and his psychiatric problems leading to suicide.
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Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa (w skrócie WKD), dawniej Elektryczna Kolej Dojazdowa jest wydzielonym normalnotorowym, w większości zelektryfikowanym napięciem 3KV prądu stałego, systemem kolei miejskiej w Warszawie i okolicach. Wykonuje ona... more
Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa (w skrócie WKD), dawniej Elektryczna Kolej Dojazdowa jest wydzielonym normalnotorowym, w większości zelektryfikowanym napięciem 3KV prądu stałego, systemem kolei miejskiej w Warszawie i okolicach. Wykonuje ona obecnie przewozy pasażerskie na odcinku Warszawa Śródmieście WKD – Podkowa Leśna Główna – Grodzisk Mazowiecki Radońska (linia 47) z odgałęzieniem Podkowa Leśna Główna – Milanówek Grudów (linia 48). Jest to najstarszy działający obecnie w Polsce tego typu system transportu publicznego.
Została ona uruchomiona jako Elektryczne Koleje Dojazdowe (EKD) dnia 11 grudnia 1927 roku i była wówczas pierwszą w ówczesnych granicach Plaski normalnotorową linia kolei elektrycznej. W roku 1951 nastąpiło przejęcie linii EKD przez Dyrekcję Okręgową Kolei Państwowych w Warszawie i zmiana jej nazwy na Warszawską Kolej Dojazdową. W latach 2000–2008 funkcjonowała ona jako PKP Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa.
Została ona uruchomiona jako Elektryczne Koleje Dojazdowe (EKD) dnia 11 grudnia 1927 roku i była wówczas pierwszą w ówczesnych granicach Plaski normalnotorową linia kolei elektrycznej. W roku 1951 nastąpiło przejęcie linii EKD przez Dyrekcję Okręgową Kolei Państwowych w Warszawie i zmiana jej nazwy na Warszawską Kolej Dojazdową. W latach 2000–2008 funkcjonowała ona jako PKP Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa.
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Bibliography of the subject.
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Poza warszawskim metrem, otwartym dopiero w roku 1995, wszystkie poniżej wymienione linie kolejowe zasilane są albo były z sieci napowietrznej, łącznie z trójmiejską SKM, która korzystała na początku z taboru berlińskiej S-Bahn, jednakże... more
Poza warszawskim metrem, otwartym dopiero w roku 1995, wszystkie poniżej wymienione linie kolejowe zasilane są albo były z sieci napowietrznej, łącznie z trójmiejską SKM, która korzystała na początku z taboru berlińskiej S-Bahn, jednakże przerobionego w Polsce na zasilanie z sieci napowietrznej (800 V =). Jeśli nie zaznaczono inaczej, to chodzi poniżej o elektryfikację prądem stałym o napięciu 3000 V (3 kV =), jako że nie zajmuje się w tym opracowaniu kolejami przemysłowymi, które w Polsce stosowały systemy 1200 V = i 2400 V =, podziemnymi kolejami kopalnianymi ani też warszawskim metrem, którego tabor zasilany jest z trzeciej szyny prądem stałym o napięciu 750 V. Omówiona została zaś szczegółowo pierwsza elektryfikacja kolei na Dolnym Śląsku systemem 15 kV 16 2 / 3 Hz. Pominięte zostały w tym opracowaniu systemy podmiejskich tramwajów, uważane przez niektóre źródła za elektryczne koleje (albo kolejki) podmiejskie. Chodzi tu o głównie o podmiejskie i międzymiastowe tramwaje w okolicach Łodzi, Jeleniej Góry oraz w Górnośląskim Okręgu Przemysłowym (GOP). Przykładowo: GUS 1 podaje, że na dzień 31 grudnia 1946 roku było w Polsce aż 282,6 km elektrycznych kolei dojazdowych, które są w tym roczniku liczone osobno od tramwajów (380,5 km). Są to w przypadku GUS-u głównie linia, 47 czyli EKD (WKD), linia 264 Wąbrzeźno-Wąbrzeźno Miasto, linia, 238 czyli Kolejka Walimska oraz podmiejskie tramwaje w Łodzi i Jeleniej Górze i Górnośląskim Okręgu Przemysłowym (GOP). Uwzględniam więc w tabelach poniżej tylko linie EKD (WKD) oraz nieczynną już linię 264 Wąbrzeźno-Wąbrzeźno Miasto oraz Kolejkę Walimską, jako że były one zarządzane przez PKP, ujęte w rozkładach jazdy PKP oraz miały one charakter bardziej linii kolejowych niż tramwajów podmiejskich. Na dodatek WKD, po przeniesieniu części trasy do wykopów, wymianie taboru na EZT oraz szczególnie po ostatniej zmianie napięcia zasilania z tramwajowego czyli 600V na kolejowe czyli 3kV ma obecnie niewątpliwie charakter linii kolejowej. Uwzględniam też Koszalińską Kolej Plażową, głównie ze względu na to, że dzieliła ona torowisko z czynną do dziś linią kolejową 427 Mścice-Mielno Koszalińskie. Użyte oznaczenia i skróty: CMK-Centralna Magistrala Kolejowa (3kV=, prędkość projektowa 200 km/h) DŻWW-elektryfikacja dawnej Drogi Żelaznej Warszawsko-Wiedeńskiej poza Warszawskim i Łódzkim Węzłem Kolejowym i poza obszarem GOP (3kV =) Pierwsza elektryfikacja kolei na Dolnym Śląsku (15 kV 16 2 / 3 Hz) Druga elektryfikacja kolei na Dolnym Śląsku (3kV =) GOP-Elektryfikacja obszaru Górnośląskiego Okręgu Przemysłowego (3kV =) KWK-Krakowski Węzeł Kolejowy (3kV =) ŁWK-Łódzki Węzeł Kolejowy (3kV =) MW-Magistrala Węglowa (3 kV =) PWK-Poznański Węzeł Kolejowy (3kV =) SWK-Szczeciński Węzeł Kolejowy (3kV =) TWK-Trójmiejski Węzeł Kolejowy (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia)-pierwsza elektryfikacja (800 V =) TWK-Trójmiejski Węzeł Kolejowy (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia)-druga elektryfikacja (3kV =) WrWK-Wrocławski Węzeł Kolejowy (3kV =) WWK-Warszawski Węzeł Kolejowy (3kV =) WKD-Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa (początkowo 600V = a od 28 maja 2016 roku 3 kV =) Uwagi: 1. Podaję w tabelach poniżej nazwy stacji i posterunków odgałęźnych-końcowych i początkowych oraz nazwy pośrednich stacji węzłowych oraz znajdujących się w większych miejscowościach. 2. Jeżeli daty elektryfikacji różnią się tylko co do dnia i miesiąca, to nie podaję rozbieżności pomiędzy źródłami. 3. Numery linii kolejowych podaję według instrukcji Id-12 (D-29)-http://www.plk-sa.pl/files/public/user_upload/pdf/Akty_prawne_i_przepisy/Instrukcje/Wydruk/Id-12.pdf-PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. "Załącznik do zarządzenia Nr 1/2009 Zarządu PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. z dnia 9 lutego 2009 r. Wykaz linii Id-12 (D-29)".
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Opieram się tu na źródłach wymienionych w bibliografii. Niestety, ale wydawałoby się autorytatywne opracowanie Plewako et al. (2006) zwiera sporo uproszczeń (np. w statystyce elektryfikacji linii kolejowychkolejowych1) oraz zwyczajnych... more
Opieram się tu na źródłach wymienionych w bibliografii. Niestety, ale wydawałoby się autorytatywne
opracowanie Plewako et al. (2006) zwiera sporo uproszczeń (np. w statystyce elektryfikacji linii
kolejowychkolejowych1) oraz zwyczajnych błędów niektóre wynikają z niechlujnej korekty, ale niektóre także z
braku konsultacji z innymi opracowaniami i wiarygodnymi źródłami. Dalej informuję więc tylko o
ważniejszych niezgodnościach pomiędzy w/w opracowaniami, pomijając oczywiste błędy edytorskie.
opracowanie Plewako et al. (2006) zwiera sporo uproszczeń (np. w statystyce elektryfikacji linii
kolejowychkolejowych1) oraz zwyczajnych błędów niektóre wynikają z niechlujnej korekty, ale niektóre także z
braku konsultacji z innymi opracowaniami i wiarygodnymi źródłami. Dalej informuję więc tylko o
ważniejszych niezgodnościach pomiędzy w/w opracowaniami, pomijając oczywiste błędy edytorskie.
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Wstęp W większości opracowań na temat elektryfikacji kolei w Polsce 1 trudno było dotąd znaleźć materiały na temat rzeczywistych początków trakcji elektrycznej na ziemiach polskich. Mimo że już w roku 1898 otwarto zelektryfikowaną linię... more
Wstęp W większości opracowań na temat elektryfikacji kolei w Polsce 1 trudno było dotąd znaleźć materiały na temat rzeczywistych początków trakcji elektrycznej na ziemiach polskich. Mimo że już w roku 1898 otwarto zelektryfikowaną linię kolejową Wąbrzeźno-Wąbrzeźno Miasto 2 a od roku 1914 pociągi elektryczne zaczęły jeździć na głównych liniach kolejowych Dolnego Śląska, w okolicach Wałbrzycha, to źródła te podają najczęściej dzień 15 grudnia 1936 roku jako datę otwarcia pierwszej zelektryfikowanej linii kolejowej na ziemiach polskich czyli odcinka Otwock-Warszawa-Pruszków, wspominając tylko mimochodem o otwarciu dnia 11 grudnia 1927 zelektryfikowanego odcinka normalnotorowej linii kolejowej WKD 3 na trasie Warszawa (ul. Marszałkowska)-Grodzisk Radońska 4. Tak więc aby zapełnić tę lukę, podjąłem się zadania opracowania historii początków trakcji elektrycznej na ziemiach polskich ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem jej taboru, czyli głównie lokomotyw elektrycznych (elektrowozów) i elektrycznych zespołów trakcyjnych (EZT). Efekty elektryfikacji kolei w Polsce Elektryfikacja kolei była ogromnym postępem w porównaniu do trakcji parowej. Przykładowo, w Polsce pod koniec lat 1970. trakcja parowa wykonywała już tylko 7% pracy przewozowej kolei, a zużywała na do tego aż 1,55 mln ton węgla umownego rocznie, podczas gdy trakcja elektryczna na wykonanie 61% pracy przewozowej zużyła 4,098 mld kWh energii-elektrycznej, a na jej wytworzenie zużyto w elektrowniach jedynie 1,7 mln ton węgla umownego 5. Ponadto 6 :-zużycie energii (w MJ) przez PKP było w roku 1976 takie samo jak w roku 1950, choć przewozy wzrosły w tym okresie 3.47 razy;-choć udział trakcji elektrycznej w roku 1955 wynosił zaledwie 2% przewozów koleją, a w roku 1960-8,2%, to spowodował on już zatrzymanie dalszego wzrostu zużycia energii przez kolej;-mimo stałego wzrostu przewozów kolejowych do roku 1965 (210%), zużycie energii na kolei prawie nie rosło (szczyt zużycia nastąpił w roku 1962);-od roku 1965 r. globalne zużycie energii przez kolej zaczęło szybko spadać, choć przewozy wzrosły w latach 1965-1976 z 210% do 347%, aby to spowodowane szybką elektryfikacją PKP;-całkowite zużycie energii przez kolej w 1980 r. wynosiło zaledwie 76,8% zużycia z 1950 r., choć przewozy wzrosły do 356%. Już w roku 1929, w odczycie wygłoszonym w Stowarzyszeniu Elektryków Polskich, Roman Podoski przedstawił szczegółowo korzyści wypływające z elektryfikacji kolei 7 :-Zmniejszenie kosztów eksploatacyjnych. Obliczył on wówczas, że koleje elektryczne czerpiące energię z elektrowni parowych dają 61% oszczędność węgla, głównie ze względu na jego lepsze spalanie w paleniskach elektrowni niż w parowozach oraz ze względu na większą wydajność turbin parowych stosowany już wówczas powszechnie w elektrowniach w porównaniu do parowych silników tłokowych, stosowanych praktycznie do końca w lokomotywach parowych; 1 Np. Plewako et al. 2006, choć nie popełnił tego błędu np. Lijewski (1986). 2
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Melbourne jest też jedynym miastem w Australii, a także w Oceanii i generalnie na południowej półkuli i w w dawnym Imperium Brytyjskim, posiadającym, obok kanadyjskiego Toronto, rozwinięty system transportu tramwajowego. Jest też ono... more
Melbourne jest też jedynym miastem w Australii, a także w Oceanii i generalnie na południowej półkuli i w w dawnym Imperium Brytyjskim, posiadającym, obok kanadyjskiego Toronto, rozwinięty system transportu tramwajowego. Jest też ono najbardziej na południe położonym miastem z siecią tramwajową. Według niektórych źródeł (n.p. Wikipedii) Melbourne posiada największą sieć tramwajową na świecie, wyprzedzając Petersburg, który ostatnio zamknął wiele odcinków swojej sieci. Nie jest to jednak zupełnie zgodne ze stanem faktycznym, jako że według tego samego źródła nieco dłuższą sieć tramwajową ma Amsterdam, zaś jeśli chodzi o ilość eksploatowanych tramwajów, to mają ich znacznie więcej Praga, Moskwa, Warszawa, Petersburg, Budapeszt, Berlin, Łódź i Wiedeń, a jeśli chodzi o ilość przewiezionych pasażerów ciągu roku, to Melbourne zajmuje dość niską pozycję w światowym rankingu, jako że wyprzedzają to miasto Budapeszt, Wiedeń, Warszawa, Praga, Bukareszt, Petersburg, Moskwa, Paryż, Kolonia, Zurych, Zagrzeb a nawet i Kraków. Jeśli chodzi o bieżące stulecie, to najwięcej pasażerów tramwaje w Melbourne przewiozły w roku finansowym 2011-2012, ale to było wciąż nieco poniżej 200 mln
pasażerów, a pamiętajmy, że przewiozły one aż 260 milionów pasażerów w rekordowym dla siebie roku 1949. Była to porównywalna ilość do przewiezionych w tamtych czasach (od końca lat 1940. do początku
lat 1960.) w Barcelonie (226 mln) czy Rzymie (233 mln) ale znacznie mniej niż w Tokio (582 mln), Wiedniu (427 mln) i Osace (334 mln) choć więcej niż w Hamburgu (159 mln), Madrycie (171 mln), Toronto (137
mln) czy też w Sztokholmie (66 mln)7. Dla porównania w roku 1978 tramwaje w Melbourne przewiozły 101 mln pasażerów.
pasażerów, a pamiętajmy, że przewiozły one aż 260 milionów pasażerów w rekordowym dla siebie roku 1949. Była to porównywalna ilość do przewiezionych w tamtych czasach (od końca lat 1940. do początku
lat 1960.) w Barcelonie (226 mln) czy Rzymie (233 mln) ale znacznie mniej niż w Tokio (582 mln), Wiedniu (427 mln) i Osace (334 mln) choć więcej niż w Hamburgu (159 mln), Madrycie (171 mln), Toronto (137
mln) czy też w Sztokholmie (66 mln)7. Dla porównania w roku 1978 tramwaje w Melbourne przewiozły 101 mln pasażerów.
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The term comprador, is a Portuguese word that simply means ‘buyer” It was drawn from the Latin ‘comparare’, which in English means ‘to procure’. Originally, it was used in East Asia to describe a native servant in European households... more
The term comprador, is a Portuguese word that simply means ‘buyer” It was drawn from the Latin ‘comparare’, which in English means ‘to procure’. Originally, it was used in East Asia to describe a native servant in European households in the Canton (Guangzhou) region in southern China and especially in the neighbouring Portuguese colony oft Macao. The duties of such a servant included visits at the local market in to barter his employers’ goods.
Later, this term then evolved and now means the native contractor or supplier, who works for foreign companies in East Asia or the native managers of firms in East Asia. Before year 1949 (i.e. communist victory in mainland China) compradors held important positions in southern China. They were trading such goods as tea, silk, cotton and yarn for foreign (mostly Western) corporations and were the agents working for foreign-owned banks. Notable compradors, that were active during the Republican Period in the early 20th century China, included such names as Zhang Jiaao of Shanghai and Tong King-sing of Kwangtung (Guandong) Province.
In this paper, I will use the term comprador in a wider sense, as a ‘native person who is an agent of foreign-owned capital’, as it is used by Marxist researchers who coined the term comprador bourgeoisie to describe such compradors in regions outside of East Asia.
According to V. P. Panov Comprador Bourgeoisie is
(…) that part of the bourgeoisie of the economically backward countries (both colonial and independent) which acts as a go-between for foreign companies in domestic and foreign trade. This group is closely linked with the colonialists. Often it functions as an intermediary between the peasants and artisans of its own country and foreign monopolies.
The comprador bourgeoisie arose in the era of the formation of the imperialist colonial system. It was made up predominantly of the part of the native exploiting groups and classes that unconditionally submitted to foreign capital in both political and economic relations (merchants, usurers, feudal lords, and tribal aristocracy). From it and the clan-tribal aristocracy, the colonialists selected the cadre for the local officialdom. The characteristic feature of the comprador bourgeoisie was its antinational, pro-imperialist position and its refusal to participate in the bourgeois nationalistic anti-colonial movement of the late 19th and early 20th century and the period between the world wars.
After World War I there was a weakening of the economic dependency of several large colonies on the mother countries, establishing the conditions for the accelerated development of the national bourgeoisie on the base of the growing native industry. The economic role of the comprador bourgeoisie simultaneously declined in importance. After World War II, with the collapse of the imperialist colonial system and the growth of the national liberation movement, the role of the national bourgeoisie increased, especially its anti-imperialist strata. Since the development of native industry was being impeded by foreign capital, in many developing countries the national bourgeoisie and, above all, its petite and middle bourgeoisie segments took part in the national liberation movement. The result has been the political isolation of the comprador bourgeoisie.
In the young states of Asia and Africa that are following the capitalist way of development, a comprador bourgeoisie continues to exist, serving mainly to maintain economic ties with foreign capital. Not infrequently its political interests coincide with the interests of the entire national bourgeois class, of which it is a part. However, even in these conditions, this group is the one most strongly affected by the economic and political influence of foreign capital, because by the nature of its activity it is the most closely linked with this capital.
Comprador bourgeoisie is being described by the radical left as ‘the running dogs of imperialism’, or a kind of middle managers for the imperialists who are their real bosses, but they get a nice salary for that job. The comprador bourgeoisie is frequently differenced from the national bourgeoisie, which is interested in more-or-less independent development of the national capitalist economy (it is frequently genuinely interested in independent economic development of the country). But in underdeveloped counties such as today’s Poland, the national bourgeoisie is rather small in its economic might, compared to the comprador capitalists.
One can say that while national bourgeoisie is enriching mostly itself, the comprador bourgeoisie is mainly enriching the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie, for a relatively small share of the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie profits. In terms of politics and policy, the comprador bourgeoisie is receiving and following the orders from the imperialists, foreign bourgeoisie. Those orders can be either direct, or applied through the ‘carrot & stick measures’, such as through such international institutions as European Commission (EC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank or OECD.
Later, this term then evolved and now means the native contractor or supplier, who works for foreign companies in East Asia or the native managers of firms in East Asia. Before year 1949 (i.e. communist victory in mainland China) compradors held important positions in southern China. They were trading such goods as tea, silk, cotton and yarn for foreign (mostly Western) corporations and were the agents working for foreign-owned banks. Notable compradors, that were active during the Republican Period in the early 20th century China, included such names as Zhang Jiaao of Shanghai and Tong King-sing of Kwangtung (Guandong) Province.
In this paper, I will use the term comprador in a wider sense, as a ‘native person who is an agent of foreign-owned capital’, as it is used by Marxist researchers who coined the term comprador bourgeoisie to describe such compradors in regions outside of East Asia.
According to V. P. Panov Comprador Bourgeoisie is
(…) that part of the bourgeoisie of the economically backward countries (both colonial and independent) which acts as a go-between for foreign companies in domestic and foreign trade. This group is closely linked with the colonialists. Often it functions as an intermediary between the peasants and artisans of its own country and foreign monopolies.
The comprador bourgeoisie arose in the era of the formation of the imperialist colonial system. It was made up predominantly of the part of the native exploiting groups and classes that unconditionally submitted to foreign capital in both political and economic relations (merchants, usurers, feudal lords, and tribal aristocracy). From it and the clan-tribal aristocracy, the colonialists selected the cadre for the local officialdom. The characteristic feature of the comprador bourgeoisie was its antinational, pro-imperialist position and its refusal to participate in the bourgeois nationalistic anti-colonial movement of the late 19th and early 20th century and the period between the world wars.
After World War I there was a weakening of the economic dependency of several large colonies on the mother countries, establishing the conditions for the accelerated development of the national bourgeoisie on the base of the growing native industry. The economic role of the comprador bourgeoisie simultaneously declined in importance. After World War II, with the collapse of the imperialist colonial system and the growth of the national liberation movement, the role of the national bourgeoisie increased, especially its anti-imperialist strata. Since the development of native industry was being impeded by foreign capital, in many developing countries the national bourgeoisie and, above all, its petite and middle bourgeoisie segments took part in the national liberation movement. The result has been the political isolation of the comprador bourgeoisie.
In the young states of Asia and Africa that are following the capitalist way of development, a comprador bourgeoisie continues to exist, serving mainly to maintain economic ties with foreign capital. Not infrequently its political interests coincide with the interests of the entire national bourgeois class, of which it is a part. However, even in these conditions, this group is the one most strongly affected by the economic and political influence of foreign capital, because by the nature of its activity it is the most closely linked with this capital.
Comprador bourgeoisie is being described by the radical left as ‘the running dogs of imperialism’, or a kind of middle managers for the imperialists who are their real bosses, but they get a nice salary for that job. The comprador bourgeoisie is frequently differenced from the national bourgeoisie, which is interested in more-or-less independent development of the national capitalist economy (it is frequently genuinely interested in independent economic development of the country). But in underdeveloped counties such as today’s Poland, the national bourgeoisie is rather small in its economic might, compared to the comprador capitalists.
One can say that while national bourgeoisie is enriching mostly itself, the comprador bourgeoisie is mainly enriching the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie, for a relatively small share of the foreign imperialist bourgeoisie profits. In terms of politics and policy, the comprador bourgeoisie is receiving and following the orders from the imperialists, foreign bourgeoisie. Those orders can be either direct, or applied through the ‘carrot & stick measures’, such as through such international institutions as European Commission (EC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank or OECD.
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I try to find, why Stanisław Lem avoided any associations with Jews and Jewishness, especially in Poland.
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It is said, that about the dead should be said well or not at all, but what could we then say about Hitler, Stalin, both Napoleons (I and III) or, for example, about Genghis Khan? After all, Stanisław Lem himself admitted, publicly and in... more
It is said, that about the dead should be said well or not at all, but what could we then say about Hitler, Stalin, both Napoleons (I and III) or, for example, about Genghis Khan? After all, Stanisław Lem himself admitted, publicly and in writing, that in his youth he was a tyrant and even a monster...
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Jest to prezentacja niedopuszczona do wygłoszenia na Międzynarodowej Konferencji Naukowej „O Lemie i Po Lemie” - Gdańsk 19-21 Listopada 2021 roku, Zakład Teorii Literatury i Krytyki Artystycznej, Instytut Filologii Polskiej, Wydział... more
Jest to prezentacja niedopuszczona do wygłoszenia na Międzynarodowej Konferencji Naukowej „O Lemie i Po Lemie” - Gdańsk 19-21 Listopada 2021 roku, Zakład Teorii Literatury i Krytyki Artystycznej, Instytut Filologii Polskiej, Wydział Filologiczny Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego. Tematem tej prezentacji jest próba analizy porównawczej powieści Cixina Liu Problem trzech ciał 1 oraz Stanisława Lema Fiasko 2 .
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My argument is simple: in the case of Ukraine, its independence from Russia was an economic disaster.
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After 30 years of transformation from state to market capitalism, Poland is almost a classical example of what Marxists call a comprador economy, i.e. a country with neo-colonial economy under control of foreign capital, economy without... more
After 30 years of transformation from state to market capitalism, Poland is almost a classical example of what Marxists call a comprador economy, i.e. a country with neo-colonial economy under control of foreign capital, economy without its own technology and know-how and with low quality scientific and educational sector (especially the tertiary institutions). There is significant improvement comparing to the darkest years of transformation (early 1990s and early 2000s), when unemployment rate reached over 20%, but there is still in Poland officially almost a million unemployed, even if up to 3 million of Poles left Poland after year 1989 because of lack of jobs, low wages and very bad work conditions. Therefore, it can be said that this transformation was badly mismanaged and this is accepted now even by the present-day, post-Solidarity, right-wing government of Poland.
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Boris (Natanovich) Strugatsky (an astronomer and computer scientist born in 1931) and his younger brother Arkady (Natanovich) Strugatsky (a linguist born in 1925, died in 1991) are usually regarded as not only the best-known, but... more
Boris (Natanovich) Strugatsky (an astronomer and computer scientist born in 1931) and his younger brother Arkady (Natanovich) Strugatsky (a linguist born in 1925, died in 1991) are usually regarded as not only the best-known, but also as the best Russian science fiction (SF) writers (Kajtoch 1993, Keller 1997(2), Lem 1983, Suvin 1993). Although they both have solid scientific background, their literary output is full of irrationalism, as it consists of a mixture of SF, fantasy and traditional Russian folk fables. Literary quality of their work is difficult to judge for a foreigner, as their writings (and especially their dialogues) are hard to translate even to the languages as close to Russian as, for example, Polish. For political reasons, their satire was characterised by allegorical indirection, which is another difficulty for a reader from outside of the Russia and generally the former USSR. Such escape into the allegorical indirection and irrationalism was a combined result of the guidelines set up by their editors, critics and, above all, the censors (Kajtoch 1993 pp. 9-10). Although the Strugatskys could be considered ‘mildly liberal Marxists-Leninists’ when they started writing in year 1956 , in the 1970s they clearly became ‘revisionists’ and later hardly could be classified as even remotely Marxist, as their prose contained less and less science and rationality, but more and more fiction and irrationality. This could be explained by general disenchantment of the Russians, who were told, that the ideology of their (allegedly socialist) state was thoroughly scientific. Thus, after collapse of the Soviet Union, the popular Russian heroes are no longer physicists and cosmonauts, but psychics as well as assorted movie and TV stars.
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thesis is dedicated to the analysis of the results of neoliberal socio-economic policy applied in years 1983-2003 in Australia by governments of formally different political orientations as a part of broader macro and microeconomic... more
thesis is dedicated to the analysis of the results of neoliberal socio-economic policy applied in years 1983-2003 in Australia by governments of formally different political orientations as a part of broader macro and microeconomic reform, which was designed in order to improve competitiveness of Australian economy. I will analyse mostly results of this transformation in such areas as labour market (mainly unemployment), inflation, dynamics of GDP and real wages. My argument is that the American model followed by Australia and also New Zealand has not the real chances to prove it in the Australian conditions and thus had to fail.
In this thesis I also analyse usefulness of solutions characteristic for the American model of the 1980s for Australia and New Zealand. To estimate the success of reforms, having in view the improvement of the competitiveness of economy of a given country, one should at the beginning specify understanding of such key terms as competitiveness of economy, her determinants as well as the ways of her measurement. One should also distinguish the idea of competitive ability from the results of its implementation, that is position, which given economy occupies in a given moment of time, i.e. competitive position. The first is determined by natural resources: human, infrastructure, technology, know how, capital and position of a given economy among the other countries. The second is usually measured using total GNP (or GDP) and GNP (GDP) per capita, share in world trade, the efficiency of work (wider: the productiveness of a given economy).
Estimating the competitiveness of economies of Australia and NZ, I have concentrated on such “classic” measures as: for competitive position - GDP and GDP per capita, efficiency (productivity) of work as well as widely understood conditions of work and pay, including the condition of labour market, and for competitive ability - the broadly understood indicators of economic growth. I have also analysed the social results of reforms, as well as, generally, the usefulness of American model of reforms for different countries (national economies).
On the basis of analysis of statistical data and literature of the subject, I came to conclusion, that the growth of efficiency (productivity) in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s, caused, among other things, by the mentioned reforms, was unstable, and partially broke down in the late part of the 20th century, when according to many estimates the level of that efficiency returned to the level of the 1970s, and so from before the reforms. According to some experts, it even returned to the level lower than in the 1960s.
The neo-liberal reforms in Australia and New Zealand improved, without any doubts, competitiveness of economies of those countries, especially their competitive position as measured by such indicators as GDP and GDP per capita and official unemployment rate, as well as their competitive ability as measured by such indicators as dynamics of GDP and GDP per capita. However, those reforms caused also a number of negative phenomena, such as the chronic deficits of current account balance, and for this reason very serious growth of foreign debts, which in turn negatively influences (by the way of high interest rates) the economic growth of those countries. The analysed reforms brought also enlarged levels of social stratification, and thus increased level of social tensions. Therefore, exact specification of their influence on quality of life seems to be difficult.
In this thesis I also analyse usefulness of solutions characteristic for the American model of the 1980s for Australia and New Zealand. To estimate the success of reforms, having in view the improvement of the competitiveness of economy of a given country, one should at the beginning specify understanding of such key terms as competitiveness of economy, her determinants as well as the ways of her measurement. One should also distinguish the idea of competitive ability from the results of its implementation, that is position, which given economy occupies in a given moment of time, i.e. competitive position. The first is determined by natural resources: human, infrastructure, technology, know how, capital and position of a given economy among the other countries. The second is usually measured using total GNP (or GDP) and GNP (GDP) per capita, share in world trade, the efficiency of work (wider: the productiveness of a given economy).
Estimating the competitiveness of economies of Australia and NZ, I have concentrated on such “classic” measures as: for competitive position - GDP and GDP per capita, efficiency (productivity) of work as well as widely understood conditions of work and pay, including the condition of labour market, and for competitive ability - the broadly understood indicators of economic growth. I have also analysed the social results of reforms, as well as, generally, the usefulness of American model of reforms for different countries (national economies).
On the basis of analysis of statistical data and literature of the subject, I came to conclusion, that the growth of efficiency (productivity) in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s, caused, among other things, by the mentioned reforms, was unstable, and partially broke down in the late part of the 20th century, when according to many estimates the level of that efficiency returned to the level of the 1970s, and so from before the reforms. According to some experts, it even returned to the level lower than in the 1960s.
The neo-liberal reforms in Australia and New Zealand improved, without any doubts, competitiveness of economies of those countries, especially their competitive position as measured by such indicators as GDP and GDP per capita and official unemployment rate, as well as their competitive ability as measured by such indicators as dynamics of GDP and GDP per capita. However, those reforms caused also a number of negative phenomena, such as the chronic deficits of current account balance, and for this reason very serious growth of foreign debts, which in turn negatively influences (by the way of high interest rates) the economic growth of those countries. The analysed reforms brought also enlarged levels of social stratification, and thus increased level of social tensions. Therefore, exact specification of their influence on quality of life seems to be difficult.