Disenfranchisement In “Franchise”. Isaac Asimov’S 1955

Is Martha right in her idea that the robot cannot think, which is why it could never be a duplication of a human, such as Ash? This paper shall attempt to demonstrate the validity of artificial intelligence’s inability to be thinking, conscious entities via Black Mirror’s “Be Right Back” episode by supporting it with Descartes’ Dualism theory.

A marvelous novel, “The Great Gatsby” written during the 1920’s by F. Scott Fitzgerald proposes a question about the truth of being “great”. The novel's protagonist, Nick Carraway grows close to Jay Gatsby; a rich, party man. Carraway strongly believes that Gatsby deserves to be known as “great.” Nevertheless, Gatsby should not be considered “great” for many reasons. To list a few, Gatsby does not do anything extraordinary to earn the title of “great”, does not work hard for success, and pretends to be somebody he wishes to be.

Throughout this course, we have explored both ancient and contemporary worldviews that have helped us answer the question: “What is the Self”? Apuleius had a very different approach to formulate an answer to this question then did other contemporary authors which will both be discussed in length.

Norman, a strong guy, could not save him not for lack of strength, but instead because of complete chaos around him, and “the worst part […] the smell” (O’Brien, 139). After the firefight was over, guilt set into Norman that would never leave. He blamed himself for Kiowa’s death, and it riddled him with self-doubt. After the war, he is completely unable to tell anyone about the incident, and the medal he should’ve won, “he wished he could have explained some of this. How he had been braver than he ever thought possible, but how he had not been so brave as he wanted to be” (O’Brien, 126). His feeling of inadequacy is based on this singular incident, and is something unable to be represented in the NBER study. After the war, Norman lived in the same town he has always lived in, yet he felt like a stranger: “the town could not, and would not listen. […] It had no memory, therefore no guilt” (O’Brien, 137). Norman feels alienated from society, wracked with guilt for a situation beyond his control, he finds his only solace is in the taking of his life. Tim O’Brien uses the suicide of Norman Bawker to represent the extremes of post-war trauma of veterans as a whole. Norman is a stand-in for every soldier who comes home from the war feeling as if he could have done more. Norman’s home town, a sleepy town in middle America with, “stone patios with barbecue spits and grills, and wooden shingles” (O’Brien, 131) represents America as a whole and its uncertainty of how to

The short stories; “All the Troubles of the World” by Isaac Asimov and “I Am...Am I” by Drew Hayden Taylor, have many similarities and differences. “All the Troubles” is about an artificial intelligence named Multivac. Multivac contains all the information about the earth’s inhabitants and eventually has enough of all the troubles of the world. The short story “I Am...Am I” is about two computer scientists who have created an artificial intelligence. The AI evolved faster than they expected and decides it does not want to be apart of humanity. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast both of the short story’s point of views, characters and literary devices to help develop a theme for their stories.

Berman brings the struggle over voting rights to life through meticulous archival research, radical interviews with major figures in the debate, and incisive on-the-ground reporting. In exclusive details, he takes the reader from the demonstrations of the civil rights era to the halls of Congress, to the chambers of the Supreme Court. At this important moment in history, Give Us the Ballot provides new insight into one of the most vital political and civil rights issues of our time. (Macmillan Publishers,

With exaggerated diction, Clarence Hervey is described as a bachelor who believes that he is the most eligible in all of the land. Edgeworth describes Clarence as someone who is admired in all companies, and he feels that he is viewed by others as a “genius”. Exaggeration, in this case, is used to intensify the slap of reality when

Rivetingly, he was devoted to "his wife and girls." While sighing, he insisted that he did the grocery shopping, the cleaning, the laundry and the ironing. For his "pearls," there was nothing that he could not, nor would not do. He was sharp, shrewd and witty. At times, he was an enigma...the simple baffled him, but the complex he mastered. His family and friends sought his advice and looked upon him as a figurehead.

Although Scoresby did seem to be a genius during the commencement of his popularity, the experiences the Reverend had soon exposed Scoresby’s true identity. During examinations, Scoresby was asked no questions beyond the narrow boundaries of his knowledge. This indicates a hint towards luck since he received questions that he was already suitable and confident with. In addition,

2. “At first his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they and not previously noticed.” page 85

In every person, an ego which interacts with the world appears to exist; hence, languages use the basic pronouns, “I” and “you.” However, what can one truly classify as the self? Cognitive scientist Bruce Hood defines an illusion as, “[the] experience of something that is not what it seems.” By this definition, he classifies the self as illusory; humans naturally experience their self, but it does not actually exist. Similarly, in Pablo Neruda’s The Egoist, Neruda contrasts the ego with the natural world, deeming abandoning one’s self a necessary step to obtain lasting satisfaction with existence. Neruda conveys his idea as a physician would a diagnosis; first identifying the problem’s nature, then outlining its effects and solution.

Asimov’s short story “Reason” in I, Robot is about a fictional robot character which uses reason to perceive and question its own existence. Similarly to Descartes, a robot named “QT” embarks on a philosophical journey to rid himself of any preconceived beliefs and ideas that cannot be confirmed(verified?) for certain, accepting only axiomatic principles. Although Descartes and QT live in different time periods and environments, they both challenge their current society’s belief systems and the macro view of existence itself which leads them to different conclusions about the world they exist in. Cutie goes through three phases of philosophical belief shift, each representing one three Descartes meditations. In the short story “Reason”, Asimov supports the ideas portrayed in the first three meditations explored by Descartes, through the use of themes, symbolism, and Cutie’s actions, which dawns new light on the concept of creation and existence.

“We think about subjectivities as actors’ thoughts, sentiments and embodied sensibilities, and, especially, their sense of self and self-world relations” (Luhrmann, 2006)

He was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend. (14)

In immediate self-consciousness the simple ‘I’ is the absolute object which, however, for us or in itself is absolute mediation and has its essential moment lasting independence” (95). Those that relinquish the struggle, however, end up being the slave of external circumstances.