PAGE 40 “REASON”

I Robot is a collection of science fiction stories by Isaac Asimov. Contains 9 stories, which have robots as protagonists. They are based on the theme of the three laws of robotics.

REASON

Gregory Powell and Mike Donovan are on the space station that serves to provide energy to the earth. Their task is to assemble and control the operation of the new QT-1 robot, which they call Cutie. Characterized by very high reasoning skills, Cutie does not believe he was created by humans. Powell and Donovan try to explain to the robot the universe, the stars, but Cutie, believing that nothing can create something superior to himself, does not believe the thesis that the two men propose to him. He then comes to create his own personal religion, believing that he was created to serve the Master (the machine that manages the sending of energy to the Earth). The two try to convince the robot in many ways, but without success.

Exercise 8 page 41

GAS CHAMBER

someone has decided that there should be a large room where people and animals can be placed, then sealed and injected with poisonous gas.

This was killed and was the preferred method of death during the Holocaust. There is no benefit to the gas chamber and it is one of the dozens of inventions that do not add anything to this world.

NUCLEAR FISSION

Nuclear power is everywhere these days and all thanks to the scientists who learned that splitting the nucleus of an atom creates a release of a large amount of energy. Great for providing power but not so great when the same process also can be used to create nuclear weapons, which we all can agree are bad news.

ANTIBIOTICS

The invention of antibiotics was a huge step for medicine. It saved and is still saving countless lives by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria

THE INTERNET

The internet is the one thing that enabled us to be connected to the whole world, no matter where we are. The whole modern world depends on the internet, as it has the most impact on business, economy, politics, art, entertainment, communications, etc.