Author Information: Tatiana Sokolova, Institute of Philosophy RAS, Higher School of Economics Moscow, sokolovatd@gmail.com

Sokolova, Tatiana. “Scientist as Fiction Writer: Soviet Science-Fiction and Space Exploration.” Social Epistemology Review and Reply Collective 4, no. 1 (2014): 3-13.

The PDF of the article gives specific page numbers. Shortlink: http://wp.me/p1Bfg0-1Of

Image credit: Joe Dunckley, via flickr

Editor’s Note: Tatiana Sokolova graciously provided us with the notes to a presentation she gave at the “Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Relations in Russia” conference on Friday, September 19, 2014. The presentation notes are presented here.

Abstract

The successes of the Soviet space programme (Satellite-1, the first man in space, and the first man in open space) are often considered to be the consequence of the arms race during the Cold War. This paper will aim to show that, at the ideological level, these successes were based on the synthesis of two seemingly contradictory philosophies: on the one hand, the philosophy of Russian Cosmism (especially in the version propounded by K. Tsiolkovsky), with the idea of man’s responsibility before all rational beings in the universe; and, on the other, the Marxist thesis about the elimination the gap between manual and intellectual labour.

Such a synthesis was possible thanks to the general orientation of both Marxism and Cosmism to build a new society organized on scientific grounds. Such a society demanded a new type of man, who did not only have advanced technical skills and scientific knowledge, but also had particular moral qualities, such as strong faith in humanity, readiness for self-sacrifice, and the courage to explore outer space. These qualities, as well as highly sophisticated (yet nonetheless fantastical) technologies, were brought together in the science-fiction literature written by Russian scientists (including K. Tsiolkovsky, A. Beliaev, I. Efremov and many others), who in such works did not confine themselves to the simple popularization of the hard sciences.

Inspired by Tsiolkovsky’s ideas, Soviet engineers and scientists (F. Zander, Y. Kondratyuk, S. Korolev and others) opened the new era of USSR’s space exploration. Thus, the paper will examine the interaction between philosophical ideas and technical achievements based on an analysis of Soviet science fiction literature from 1920s to 1957 (the year of the launch of Satellite-1), as well as of its critics from the scientific community.

The report is prepared with the support of RNF, Project № 14-18-02227 “Social Philosophy of Science. Russian Prospects”

Introduction

The main idea of this paper bases on the following premises:

• Fiction before reality. Literature (fiction) can and often do lead the role in the process of reality rearrangement. Due to the dreams, ideas and plans proposed by great writers, not only artists, but also scientists discover the sources for technical resolutions and accelerate the progress of scientific thought.

• People resources. Technical innovations don’t create themselves. To develop the progress in sciences a society need a very special kind of people, inspired to follow the path of new ideas and to search the truth.

Some researchers point out that from historical point of view:

• K. Tsiolkovsky’s ideas on space flights (and even on air flights) were dreams and not plans because of serious mistakes in calculations.
• S. Korolev was capable to build R7 Rocket and Satellite 1 only because  he got German drawings of V-1 and V-2 (A4).

Conclusion: Soviet engineers had no real scientific base for space exploration, but military needs after WWII made USSR’s government stimulate the rocket construction. The side product of this completely military race was Soviet space program.

We suppose that it is not the only one possible explanation for USSR successes in space. Through the Soviet sci-fi literature we can see the development of ideas and tools, which became real in 1960s.

Why to Space?

The first half of 20th century was not a plausible period for Russian science: 1905 Revolution, WWI, civil war, intervention and WWII.

Nevertheless from the very beginning of 20th century and during all the political catastrophes the idea of space exploration always survives in fiction and in science. Why?

We suppose, that space exploration as a Great project could give:

• a new picture of the future;
• a new scientific (i.e., solid) way to make this picture come true.

Figure 1: Cosmic Voyage

Soviet Theoretical Achievements

Soviet Practical Achievements

Figure 2: Evolution of Soviet Space Launch Vehicles

Soviet Sci-Fi: Authors

The most important authors for Soviet science fiction before 1957 are:

Konstanin Tsiolkovsky – occasional sci-fi author, but mainly scientist and philosopher. His ideas of space explorations and proposals of rockets and spacecrafts was the main source of inspiration for almost all the sci-fi writers of this period.

Alexander Belyaev – inspired by Tsiolkovsky’s ideas, he writes sci-fi novels on space exploration and aircraft construction, trying to describe the life on a space ship or a space station. Most of his novels contain a philosophical debates on technical development.

Ivan Efremov – one of the most famous Russian sci-fi writers. His book “Andromeda” is now considered as a boundary mark for Soviet sci-fi literature.

Figure 3: Cosmic Journey 2

Critics: Near and Distant Target Debate

In early sci-fi literature in USSR critics distinguished two ways of writing:

Near target sci-fi – oriented to present achievements of science. (e.g. “Airship” by A. Belyaev).

Distant target sci-fi – describes far future and the new world, which is totally different from the present situation (“Andromeda” by I. Efremov)

After 1957 when “Andromeda” was published, the debates on near and distant target science fiction were stopped. The winner for a long time was distant target science fiction.

Example 1:

“In front of our science fiction, as well as to the entire literature, the main goal for all its genres is overriding objective: to shape the outlook and aesthetic taste of the reader. Poorly written novel or story is harmful, even if it is read with interest the lowly reader. It spoils the taste. And this is a very big sin to our culture, to our people”. (Bibl. 5)

Example 2:

“We care about the future of tomorrow’s man armed with science and technology. Even today science has become ruler of the doom of our generation! Even today, it largely determines the criterion of thought and dream about the future! And tomorrow? Is it possible to oppose the social theme of research and tear a human being of his creation a ”superpowerful machines” (Bibl. 7)

“But we follow not only today’s practical reasons. We also have scientific aims, which eventually will serve to practice”.  (Bibl. 2)

Philosophy: Cosmism

The main idea of Russian Cosmism, proposed by K. Tsiolkovsky was the Mission of Reason, which means that:

Reason is the leading a basic feature of a human nature;

There could be another rational beings in the Universe;

Ergo: as a rational being humans should explore the space to find out about another rational forms of life to make a contact with them.

But this scientific aim is also a moral aim, because (as Tsiolkovsky supposed) the true scientific mind is also a moral mind.  That’s why the science of space exploration  is also an ethic of space exploration.

The main idea of Russian Cosmism, proposed by K. Tsiolkovsky was the Mission of Reason, which means that:

Reason is the leading a basic feature of a human nature;

There could be another rational beings in the Universe;

Ergo: as a rational being humans should explore the space to find out about another rational forms of life to make a contact with them.

But this scientific aim is also a moral aim, because (as Tsiolkovsky supposed) the true scientific mind is also a moral mind.  That’s why the science of space exploration  is also an ethic of space exploration.

Philosophy: Marxism

Marx’s main idea about elimination of the distinction between hand and intellectual labour was the basic idea for many sci-fi writers.

Intellectual labour requires knowledge,  which was almost inaccessible for those, who worked with their hands.  “Old type scientists”

1. Avoided hand labour;
2. Didn’t considered workers as rational beings, who should have an equal access to sciences, because it could be a threat to the social order:

“machines produce workers, workers carry the revolution, and the revolution will destroy us all” (Bibl.3)

Elimination of this distinction in all the spheres of work could also eliminate “routine work,” because till this moment all types of work will require intellectual abilities.

Example 3:

“Sixty million tons of steel – it is at the same time, an unprecedented development of the energy sector of the country, hundreds of new power plants, and hence the mighty sweep of fuel production – primarily coal and oil. Hence, new discoveries, unprecedented scope of invention and rationalization, new hundreds of thousands of engineers and technicians, and most importantly, a steady and rapid rise and technical and cultural level of the people. In other words, the actual implementation of one of the basic conditions of a communist society – the total elimination of the boundaries between physical and mental labor. On the other hand, a huge increase in metal production and enormous development of the energy sector related to the unprecedented growth in the world of agriculture. Sixty million tons of steel – which means billions more tons of grain, new tons of oil, meat and sugar. These prospects for agriculture, in turn, are organically linked with the introduction of all branches of agriculture power. In the near future, our farmers will be required to possess not only agronomic knowledge, but also knowledge of mechanics. Near future collective farmer will change its appearance in relation to the collective farmer today’s moment. This is a very cultured man in the same time agronomist and techniques. Hence, the actual implementation of the second basic condition of a communist society – the total elimination of the distinction between town and country”. (Bibl. 6)

Engineer’s Culture

As the opposite to the old type of scientists, both ideas of Cosmism and Marxism creates a new type, which was incarnated in engineers.

As a scientists engineer has rich scientific background, but he is also a worker, capable to realize his own theoretical projects.

“They  were friendly, but as she said, I was only a “cabinet scientist” with limited interests, hesitating mind and old man’s habits like sitting all day in my lab” (Bibl.  4, P. 162).

One the one hand, an engineer has education, cultural needs and can share scientific and cultural values. On the other hand, he does not try to escape physical  labour and understands it’s importance.

Conclusions: Great Projects

1. Science-Fiction literature on space exploration in USSR formed a very special “engineer culture” inspired by Great projects;
2. Within this culture practical and technological tasks were considered as parts of much more global aims such as:

• Mission of reason;
• Symbiosis of hand and intellectual labour;

3. Scientists, inspired by these ideas (and not pragmatic or commercial interests) were capable to create USSR’s space technologies, which are still considered as important achievements in the history of science.

The philosophy of both Soviet science fiction and space exploration was developed in the frame of Soviet Marxism.

But even when Marx’s philosophy in former USSR was abandoned, the Great projects in science based on the Cosmism and Marxism remain relevant to the present scientific needs. On a par with commercial needs they create human resources to develop scientific projects.

For this reason we can say that in the case of scientific exploration (and especially space exploration in USSR) political ideology and political aims during Cold War was not the main source for Soviet space exploration.

Example 4:

“In the past years it was often said that “space must be pragmatic“. But it seems that in the headlong pursuit of this pragmatism, today we have come close to the point where we vitally need just the opposite. To be more precise, we need a clear-cut state support program of “non-pragmatic” space. Especially since there are a lot of people willing to work on such projects, even without super-salary, but for the opportunity to express themselves in a truly interesting case, to realize the Dream, write articles, dissertations, and finally – to declare their names”. (Bibl.)

References

Russian Space Web – contains all sorts of information on every event in space exploration from XIX century till now (in English).

Laboratoriya Fantastiki – almost everything on science fiction (in Russian).

Fandom.ru – Archive of papers on science fiction (in Russian).

RTC.ru – Encyclopedia Cosmonautics (on-line edition of А.И. Мелуа “Ракетная техника, космонавтика и артиллерия. Биографический справочник“).

Efremov I. Andromeda. “A Space-Aged Tale.” Translated from Russian by George Hanna. Moscow: Foreign Language Publishing House, 1959.

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Брандис Е., Дмитревский  В. Орбита большой мечты // Октябрь. – 1961. – № 11. – С.201-207.

Иванов С. Фантастика и действительность // Октябрь. – 1950. – № 1. – С. 155-164.

Лагин Л. Без скидок на жанр // Литературная газета (М.). – 1961. – 11 февр. – С.1-2.

Соболев И. Не хлебом единым… // Троицкий вариант – Наука. № 18 (162). Сентябрь, 9. 2014. С. 9. (Sobolev I. Not by Bread Alogne // Toitskiy Variant – Nauka. № 18 (162). September, 9. 2014. P. 9.)

Циолковский К. Вне земли. М., 2012.

Categories: Critical Replies

Tags: Soviet science fiction, Soviet space program, Tatiana Sokolova