Essay on Asimov's Science in His Science Fiction

Technology is a vine creeping slowly, ready to engulf the whole of the Earth in years to come. It has been necessary to countless advances in the world, but many think that it could be a foreshadowing of something sinister. The belief in this underlying future has led to dichotomous interpretations of a technological domination. These often focus on robots with an artificial intelligence superior to human intelligence. They are able to defeat the human race, with their advanced, albeit artificial, thinking. It is not difficult to find someone or something ready to preach of the possibility of a robot apocalypse. While a total robot takeover is likely far off, robots are still altering the human world at a rapid rate.

Do you recall the movie, “I Robot” with Will Smith the actor who plays the neo-luddite character who expresses disdain and dislike for all robots. Well you may have thought this was science fiction but Isaac Asimov, in 1942 published the Three Law of Robotics, which I contend this movie was based off. Asimov’s work has often been cited as “a

AI has the potential to change the way we live for better or for worse. “Terminator”, “IRobot”, and “2001: A Space Odyssey” are examples of Hollywood films where artificial intelligence runs amok, resulting in a post-apocalyptic future for humanity. Experts rated “A Space Odyssey” 9 out of 10 on realism because HAL, the supposedly antagonist, never strayed from its programming and killed its crewmates to achieve its goals. HAL was not motivated by survival instinct or emotions but simply instructions from its creator. The film’s message is that human moral is not a requirement for artificial intelligence. As the years go by the perception of AI doesn’t change much until the 1977 Sci-fi film “Star Wars” was released. Suddenly, the robots were the “good guys”. C-3PO is a perfect example of a friendly robot and quickly became recognized as one of the kindest robots in the history of movie robots. Hollywood films have done a good job of explaining that it is up to us to determine if AI works to benefit humanity or help in its destruction.

The author's purpose of this essay is contemplating whether or not laws should be made protecting robots. Throughout the essay he uses evidence from scientists who have dones tests, and it shows how people act.

This article begins by outlining the tragic death of an artificial intelligence robot, named Steve. Steve’s accidental death, by stairs, raises a lot of new questions surrounding robots, and their rights. In his article, Leetaru, discusses the range of questions that have sparked from not only Steve’s death, but the rise of advanced robot mechanics. While the Silicon Valley is busy grinding out new plans and models of robots, especially security robots, how can we establish what a mechanical robot is entitled to? Leetaru offers many different scenarios concerning robots against aggressors, in hopes to reveal that these rights be outlined with the rise in usage of this technology. The article speculates how in the future, when these robots

While technology is commonly thought of as inventions and gadgets, anything that humans have developed for specific purposes or to accomplish certain goals, such as methods or models, must also be correctly categorized as such. In Cathy Davidson’s essay “Project Classroom Makeover,” she discusses a few unconventional forms of technology such as the educational classroom paradigm and standardization. Similarly, in Steve Johnson’s essay “The Myth of the Ant Queen,” he presents procedural technology, such as self-organizing systems, and conceptual technology, collaborative intelligence. He then utilizes another conceptual form of technology, the complexity theory, to interpret these systems’ seemingly uncoordinated patterns. Sherry Turkle branches off of Davidson and Johnson’s ideas by discussing the consequences of questioning what makes a robot alive in her essay “Alone Together.” This narrative highlights the technology’s effect on humans and the reality of robots either improving or diminishing an individual’s quality of life. Besides the slight apprehension of its future usage, humans are mesmerized by the promising potential technology presents. Additionally, structural or paradigmatic technology is deeply intertwined and inherent within society’s functioning, making it impossible to separate technology from human existence.

Myths are a good representation of how technology works in a society. This is due to their valuable lessons which relate the impact of technological history on society over a period of time. Two authors by the names of Robert J. Sawyer and Gary Marcus elaborate the connection between science fiction and ethics to technology which compares to Prometheus’s myth. Sawyer explains the relationship in her essay “The Purpose of Science Fiction” in which he justifies that science fiction can portray the outcomes of future technology. Marcus justifies this connection in his essay “Moral Machines” when he describes how automated machinery should include ethical moralities in reference to how they are being used in real life scenarios. Sawyer and Marcus reveal the relationship of science fiction and ethics to technology which relates to the themes of Prometheus through science fiction and ethical motives.

V.I.K.I., from Proyas’s rendition of Asimov’s “I, Robot”, is similar to the creation of Frankenstein’s creature. It begins as a “blank slate”, and is programmed knowledge through the scientist Dr. Lanning. The “3 Laws of Robotics” are the main rules each robot is equipped with. They

In Forbidden Planet, Robby the servant and bodyguard to Dr. Morbius and Altaria, considered to be one of tv’s “friendliest” robots was created to protect the two remaining survivors. The robot will not harm any human being which is apparent when the starship crew visits the two survivors house and Robby is nothing but hospitable clearly coinciding with Asimov’s law one of robots which states that “a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a

Albert Einstein declared “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” It is important to remember that Einstein said this long before all of the technological developments we know today. If he could see how far we have progressed, his proclamation would most likely be even more urgent. Many people share the fear of technology overtaking humans. Two authors, Clive Thompson, who wrote “Smarter than You Think” and Kevin Kelly, who wrote “Better than Human: Why Robots Will- and Must-Take Our Jobs,” have an optimistic view regarding the role of technology in the future. Although they use different reasoning, both Thompson and Kelly assert collaboration between humans and technology is necessary to maximize

Another issue brought forward from the movie is whether they should be given the same rights as humans. The movie shows us that the robots have three laws that they live by, the first one being they must protect human from any harm. This first law has a few issues in being that sometimes humans do not need to be protected, for example people who have committed a crime, need to be punished, not protected. The second law tells the robot they are to obey every order given unless it violates the first law. Even if the order is unethical the robot must still obey it. The third law states the robot must protect the robot its self unless it would violate the first two laws. If they were given the same rights as humans would set them free from their laws. Robots cannot function as human because they lack the ability to have compassion or emotion. Robots do not have the ability to make ethical decisions.

Name Instructor Course Date The End of the Humanity “The Last Question” is a story in which Isaac Asimov, the author, questions the immortality of the human race as well as the permanent existence of the universe (Asimov 26).

for writing. Being a philosophy major, he had a great knowledge for reason but felt that he was

Isaac Asimov thrills the reader with his story-telling ability in "I, Robot".  Of course, many of Asimov's ideas provide a ploy to add suspense to the story.  However, when the plot completely disagree with the laws which he himself has written, the story becomes confusing.  On the surface, it appears that his stories make legitimate and logical sense, as well as entertaining the audience in a magnificent way.  However, any deeper analysis of the story will prove that there are several significant flaws in the work.  This can best be shown in one of Asimov's earlier stories, "Reason."  In this story, the first and second of the three laws of robotics are broken.  It is never explained how it would be

Within the last century scientific discovery has been growing at an exponential rate. Evolution, genetics, physics, and chemistry have all greatly affected the way people view the universe and human role in it. Furthermore, the application of scientific discoveries has physically changed society. For example, humans went from being flightless to eighty years later having transportation in super sonic jets available. Rapid scientific change has caused many issues surrounding morality and science to arise. The idea behind the skepticism is that just because something can be done doesnt mean it should be. Nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and cloning have all fallen under fire due to this concept. People worry that