"'I have no belligerent intentions.' said the robot. 'You should know I was conditioned against any such tendencies, even while my brain was in process of construction.' Something like a chuckle vibrated in the deep metal voice. 'What reason do I have to fight anyone?'" (p. 14)
Asimov's big contribution: pre-Asimov robots were either threat or pathos; Asimovian and post-Asimovian robots are engineering. Asimov reasoned that people install safeguards against the dangers of their technologies. We utilize electricity while avoiding electrocution etc. We will utilize robots while avoiding robotic rebellion. Then he thought of every way to subvert his Laws of Robotics, especially with robots who question the difference between themselves and human beings. Anderson's robot says that the difference is that, when men are unhappy, they can get drunk.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And the robot in "Quixote and the Windmill" envied the ability humans have of drowning their griefs in drink!
That story, along with "The High Ones," "Murphy's Hall," and some others, has really stuck with me!
Ad astra! Sean
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