Roboticide and Robot Love.
-----------------------------

   For those of us who enjoy taking a
peek  of things to come, as we go down the 
road of machine intelligence, Isaac Asimov
never disappoints - And I would dare say 
that he is still the best. Just reread 
Robots of Dawn and is again amazed of 
the many insights (on the future) one finds
in this book.

   In Robots of Dawn we are faced with the horrors
of a roboticide. The killing of a humaniform
robot.  A robot who was loved by a (human) woman, and
who made love to a (human) woman.
   At one level it is a pretty good detective story,
at another level Asimov once again explores the future 
of mankind in this future robot world (of ours).

   Robots don't need to take things all
that seriously - they can be absolutely courageous
in life, as they know no fear of pain or death, because
there is no pain or death (for them). 
   So, one might have expected robots to face all the
dangers life might throw at the humans.

   But according to Giskard (Asimov) that would be
dangerous for humans in the long run. 
   So, the mindreading robot Giskard 
(magic is just a very advanced technology,
as Arthur C. Clarke would have put it) decides
that humans will have to settle (face) the Galaxy without
the help of Robots. Somehow the difficulties,
dangers and harm without measure (things 
the robots could prevent if present) will
be better for the evolvement of man in the long run than
the safety, advanced robots could bring.

   When humans have passed a certain threshold,
someday in the far future, robots can perhaps
intervene once again. 
   All in the same way as parents know that 
they can't be overprotective and must let their children 
face the world on their own.
   So Giskard reasons he must override the 1 law of
robotics in the long term interest of humanity.

   In the end - despite of his shortcomings, 
short lifespans and pain, -
the hero of Robots of Dawn must therefore
be , Elijah Baley, a human. He faces exposure to
a (symbolic) storm (felt pain and
was frightened) and yet manages to overcome
it all - and ends up a better person because of it.

  Which makes you wonder what Asimov really is saying?
Robots might kill other Robots out of Love 
(i.e. 1 Law of Robotics), robots might also
make love to a human (i.e. 1 law of Robotics)
but robots can't help humans in the task and
trials of being a human.
  Is he, Asimov,  being a pessimist or an optimist here?
Pessimist in the sense that our greatest inventions
really comes to nothing faced with the really tough
questions of life - or an optimist, as we already
have all the powers within ourselves needed 
to face these challenges?

--------

The Original Laws of Robotics 
(The Calvinian religion)

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, 
through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human 
beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 
3. A robot must protect its own existence 
as long as such protection does not conflict 
with the First or Second Law 

The Zeroth Law 
(The Giskardian Reformation)

0. A robot must act in the long-range interest of 
humanity as a whole,and may overrule all other laws 
whenever it seems necesary for that ultimate goal. 

---------

Simon

Simon Laub
www.silanian.subnet.dk