You'd think someone writing science fiction would like science. But not Lem. In Solaris, science instead often seems to be a joke. Scientists have theories about Solaris, and then the theories are shown not to work, and then they figure out new theories, and then those theories don't work either, and all the theories are equally nonsensical gibberish and in the end everyone just sort of gives up. Science is a silly, pompous endeavor, and it generates a lot of nonsense. Scientists think they have knowledge, and then the ocean kicks their butts and they whimper.
Have you checked out the "Genres" section yet? Now would totally be a good time to do that.
Questions About Science
- Do scientists ever learn anything for sure about Solaris? If so, what?
- Is Lem making fun of science or of science fiction? Or does he see a difference?
- Is the ocean a scientist performing experiments? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
Lem respects scientists even though he doesn't respect science.
Kelvin respects scientists and science, but Lem doesn't seem to respect Kelvin.