Isaac Asimov: Three Laws of Robotics

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

People of all generations are constantly concerned about the question: "What future awaits us?" Most often, it is considered in the context of the fate of a particular person and his children. But there is a separate category of citizens who are concerned about the fate of civilization and the prospects for its further development.

Many minds are searching for the answer to this burning question! Scientists, historians, philosophers, writers, religious figures and even fans of quantum mechanics build their predictions and conjectures. A rather curious point of view was expressed in his writings by Isaac Asimov, the great science fiction writer and popularizer of science.

Isaac Asimov - the most versatile science fiction writer of the 20th century

In a village in Smolensk on the outskirts of the RSFSR, the boy Isaac (the real name of the writer) was born. Three years later, the Jewish family of Isaac emigrated to America. The Asimovs settled in one of the districts of New York, in Brighton Beach. Another name is "Little Odessa", this area was traditionally settled by emigrants from Russia.

From childhood, the boy spoke English and Yiddish. His worldview was shaped by books, especially the works of Sholom Aleichem. The boy grew up apparently capable andinquisitive. Therefore, he easily graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in chemistry. In 1942, Isaac moved to Philadelphia, where he had a fateful meeting with Robert Heinlein. Just after her, the writer came up with the three laws of robotics.

Creative path

The writer who invented the three laws of robotics is undoubtedly a unique personality. Asimov is the author of more than five hundred books, and he wrote not only science fiction. His arsenal includes humorous, detective and even fantasy works.

Besides his bright writing talent, Asimov was a well-rounded person, not subject to religion. He knew history, psychology, chemistry and astronomy very well. Knowledge in various fields of science, coupled with a good imagination, generated many interesting ideas. One of them is psychohistory, a science that to this day provides a broad basis for reflection. Asimov also popularized science among the common population: he explained complex things in simple language.

Traveling through the Bible with Asimov

In addition to well-known books on science fiction, we recommend reading the Guide to the Bible. The book is well written, informative and interesting. After reading it, information is systematized in the head, which is presented in abundance in the most widely read book of all times and peoples. Read more about the three laws of robotics invented by the legendary American science fiction writer.

Prerequisites for the appearance of the legendary laws

It cannot be said that Asimov for no reason took andcame up with three laws of robotics. A person is most influenced by the era in which he lives; values are formed by the family and society (with the latter playing a decisive role).

Azimov's youth passed during the rapid development of science and technology, among educated people with innovative thinking. These two factors laid down a certain worldview of the writer. It was it that contributed to his thoughts about our civilization, about the possibility of the existence of other life forms in the Universe and about robots that can become good helpers for people.

Three laws of robotics could only come up with a man of the industrial age. And this, of course, is understandable. And Isaac Asimov became it (the three laws of robotics are presented in the next chapter). How they sound and what their essence is - more on that later.

Three laws of robotics: what is the point?

For the first time the legendary laws appear in Asimov's cycle "On Robots". They are presented most interestingly in the fantastic story "Round Dance".

Having created complex assistant robots, a person imperceptibly endows them with a part of his intellect. It is quite possible (repeatedly described in books and films) when thinking machines gain power over their creators. That is why laws are needed to restrict robots.

How strict are the laws of robotics?

During his creative career, Asimov had a different attitude to invented laws. In the first stories of the About Robots series, Laws are more like safety rules orare the answer to a funny question: “How to behave with a robot?”

In later stories, Asimov believes that the Laws are part of the math behind the robot's positronic brain. There is a parallel with human instincts. It is at the call of its artificial nature that the robot acts for the benefit of a person - it helps him with difficult tasks and listens to his instructions.

Public interpretation

Azimov is first and foremost a science fiction writer. The three laws of robotics, oddly enough, fit the principles of many of Earth's ethical systems. If you think about it, these three sentences contain the right human values.

The writer himself in the story "Evidence", published in 1946, gives their rationale. Susan, the main character of the story, comes to three fundamental conclusions:

• It is normal for a normal person not to harm other people. Except when otherwise. For example, during a war, a person has to protect his life, and sometimes save other people.
• Feeling responsibility to society, a conscious person follows the recommendations of authoritative people - doctors, teachers, leaders.
• Everyone cares about the safety of their physical and mental he alth, which is also very important.

It's hard to argue with the universal interpretation of Asimov's laws. Obviously, one who follows these simple rules in life is a good person.

Isaac Asimov's predictions

Long and fascinating discussions can be held about the three laws of robotics. We will now talk about Asimov's predictions. Yes, this unique person was engaged in futurology and quite successfully, as today shows. In 1964, in New York, the science fiction writer shared with the public his vision of the world in 50 years. So, Asimov's main predictions are:

• Electronic devices will save people from routine tasks. There will be gadgets that make their own coffee and turn raw bread into toast. It came true.
• Technology will step forward. It will be possible to see your interlocutor during a telephone conversation; it will also be possible to study serious documents right on the screen of your gadget. It came true (Skype technology and video calls in smartphones).
• Robots will enter the life of an ordinary person, and many electronic devices will work without wires, due to powerful batteries. True (More people use robotic vacuum cleaners; smartphones and tablets can work autonomously for a long time).
• The population of the Earth will be 6.5 billion inhabitants, the USA - 350 thousand. The powerful of this world will have to think about humane methods of birth control, otherwise the Earth will turn into a solid Manhattan. 2014 will be a turning point for human civilization. Partly it came true (the population of the Earth in 2014 is 7.046 billion, and the United States is 314 billion; 2014 turned out to be very interesting, it is difficult to judge about the turning point; time will tell).
• Boredom will become a serious problem for humanity. More and more people will experiencethis mental illness. Therefore, in 2014, psychiatry will become one of the most important medical areas. It came true … Mood swings (cyclothymia in a scientific way) for many people have long become the norm. However, many have learned to deal with it effectively.

Isaac Asimov, the three laws of robotics and science fiction are a triad that provides an interesting look at the world of the future.