Chapter 7: Escape U.S Robots has a competitor called Consolidated. a) Describe the evolution of robot technology in this chapter and the main difference between Consolidated’s robot and the one U.S Robots built. b) What do you think the new spaceship and the dilemma about death symbolizes? Justify your answer by referencing events in the chapter.
Chapter 8: Evidence a) Outline the controversy Stephen Byerley faces in this chapter. How do civil rights protect him? c) “But you see, you just can’t differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans.” Discuss if you agree or disagree with this statement. Explain your answer fully.
Chapters 9: The Evitable Conflict How do the events and descriptions in the final chapter change your reading of the title I Robot?
After Reading Discussion
Discussion 1 The
stories in I Robot demonstrate that robots are the superiors of humans not only
in mental and physical abilities, but in morality as well. This is due to the
Three Laws of Robotics which are implanted in the positronic brain of every
robot. These laws, as robotpsychologist Susan Calvin explains, are simply the
equivalent of the great ethical systems. a)Are you
convinced by the suggestion that robots might manage human conflict better than
humans? Explain why or why not. b)At the end of the book, when it's clear that the Machines are
running the world, is it "horrible," as Bryerley says? Or, is it
"wonderful," as Calvin says? Are
humans enslaved or freed?
Discussion 2 If you had to write three laws governing the behaviour of humans, what would they be? Explain your answer fully.
Discussion 3 Create a list of questions you, as an interviewer, would ask Susan Calvin at various stages of her life. a) Discuss what you would ask the young Calvin, who heard Gloria speak with the Talking Robot, or Calvin before and after her experience with Herbie. b) What would you ask Calvin, in her fifties, after returning from the asteroid after her experience with Nestor? Finally, compose questions for Calvin at the end of her life. c) After creating your list of questions, answer some questions created by other students.
Discussion 4
Evaluate the technique used by Asimov in writing I Robot in separate chapter stories. Do you think his technique makes the book effective? Justify your answer.