Monthly Archives: February 2014

Class Notes – 2/27/14

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How does Caves of Steel stage the encounter of humans and machines?

begins w/clearly lines that get blurred as the novel goes on?
ex. clear line: when first talking about robots, work robots do
ex. blurred: go to Spacetown

humans and machines together – affect one another

robots – human invention. but more rational, more intelligent, physically superior

finite vs. infinite

Daneel – reasoning/logic – emotionless approach

Elijah – human reasoning

main question book posits: to what extent can robots replace humans or can humans be replaced

does it ask or answer that? answers — robot can’t function on own, human has to be there with robot

does this answer make us comfortable or uncomfortable? why might Asimov have written book in this way?

here’s what books says, here’s why we think the book says that

answer of the book is comfortable, not necessarily true. Author maybe couldn’t anticipate types of technology we have now?

what’s diff between a robot replacing a human in a job and a robot replacing a human more generally?

to what extent does a robot replacing a human at a job = making a human beings obsolete

FREE WILL – make decisions

book showed robots can’t function w/o being told what to do  — ex. R. Sammy. Daneel programmed for investigation?

is book not just about line between humans/robots but about fear that robots will replace humans?

humans find meaning in their jobs

conflict —

plot — where machines have religion

Caves of Steel solves conflict — robot learns mercy — (but do we find that convincing?)

 

What does it mean to be human?

Can machines have consciousness?

Can machines exhibit free will

 

Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

 

HUMAN       ANIMAL       CYBORG       ROBOT

free will

inorganic / organic

cyborg = middle ground between human and robot — Frankenstein

android — humanoid robot —- cyborg –> human enhanced or replaced with mechanical parts

humans / animals — instinct, humans use reason and logic to refrain from instinct

— humans are a type of animal — we’re mammals, just smarter.

disagree that we are smarter. we recognize intelligence in ourselves before others. we see facial expressions. some animals express selves in sounds/ways we can’t understand. about what we are raised to think about intelligence

humans have free will/ animals — repetition

what is consciousness?

being self-aware — knowing that you exist

something can’t be self–aware without having emotions

curiosity

ask why you are alive

what ties us together is that we we seek nuture/tension/need to exist / can be broken

 

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 

 What question do you think this title is really posing?

— animals — status, wealth. do androids have desire for animals, power?

— if there is correlation between mechanical animal
humans:animals :: androids:mechanical animals
are androids able to do anything that connects them in abstract way that connects them somehow — think about mechanical animals
— our conceptual structure is different from androids so we can’t understand them or understand how they understand exactly

— if androids feel that they need a connection to other synthetic animals the way we connect to animals — the way we connect sheep

— ppl try to sleep – count sheep — do androids count off electric sheep — subconscious or do they just turn off. if they have a subconscious they need to turn off

how human are androids

do androids have imagination? consciousness?

animals — empathy

opening scenes — satire of suburbia

what is the role of animals in this society?
— class — rarer animal — shows how much money you have — robot animals cheaper
— stanley’s — blue book for animals — price lists

embarrassing to have a robotic animal

only reason to have a fake animal — to show I have a rare animal — illusion of having the real thing

animals replacing way suburbia sees children — cf. kids — if married, why don’t you have an animal.

animals are an anchor for normalcy — reminds of times

humans v. androids — humans capable of empathy
cf. psycho killer — classic trope – kills animals
in this society, androids mixed
to show your HUMANITY by having an animal
importance of having an animal is your humanity

he wants something that’s real

real / fake

authenticity

empathy

emotion

Voigt-Kampf test — empathy – ch. 5

In-class group assignment –> come up with your own imaginary test to be able to tell the difference between androids and humans

 

 

 

Journal 3-Caves of Steel)

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ENGLISH-2420 (SCIENCE FICTION)

ORI DONA

FEBRYARY 26, 2014

CAVES OF STEEL SUMMARY

 

       CAVES OF STEEL DWELLED DEEP INTO MANY MOTIFS AND CONCEPTS. THE STRONGEST BEING THE HUMAN ROBOT RELATIONSHIP. THOUGHOUT THE NOVEL WE DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN. SINCE ELIJAH AND DANEEL REPRESENT THE C/FE CULTURE, THERE IS ALWAYS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT RELATIONSHIP. IN THE BEGINNING OF THE NOVEL WE SEE DANEELS SUPERIORITY DUE TO HIS PERFECT PHYSICAL MAKEUP AND INTELLECT. DANEEL ALSO APPEARS TO BE VERY LOGICAL AND REASONABLE. ELIJAH HOWEVER IS DEPICTED AS A FLAWED HUMAN WITH EMOTIONS AND WEAKNESS. HOWEVER WE SEE AT THE END OF THE NOVEL WHEN ELIJAH IS PERSISTENT AND DETERMINED TO FINISH THE CASE DESPITE DANEEL SAYING THAT IT WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO DO SO AND THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAD CONCLUDED. IT WAS ELIJAHS HUMAN ATTRIBUTES THAT EXPOSED THE COMMISSIONER. HUMAN QUALITIES SUCH AS DETERMINATION AND CURIOSITY. IN THIS SEQUENCE;

 

He said harshly, “Well, never mind that. Why are the Spacers breaking off?”

 

The robot said, “Our project is concluded. We are satisfied that Earth will colonize.”

THIS SHOWES THAT DANEEL AS WELL AS THE SPACERS WHO HAVE SUPERIOR INTELLECT AND REASON APPEAR TO LACK THE BASIC HUMAN DRIVES WHICH IS WHY ELIJAH WAS ABLE TO CRACK THE CASE. AT ONE POINT HE DID NOT EVEN HOW HE WAS GOING TO PROVE THAT ENDERBY COMMITED THE MURDER. HOWEVER THROUGH SHEER DETERMINATION AND CUCRIOSITY HE WAS ABLE TO SOLVE THE CASE. THIS IS POWERFUL BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT HUMANS MAY NOT HAVE A SET PURPOSE, HOWEVER WE ARE DRIVEN BY SOMETHING UNEXPLANIABLE WHICH IS WHAT MAKES US HUMAN.

 

Journal 3, Caves of Steel: analysis work

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She went on, “Anyway, Lizzy was always talking about  how there’d come a day and people had to get together. She said it was all the fault of the Spacers because they wanted to keep Earth weak and decadent. That was one of her favorite words, “ decadent.’

I found this quote in the middle of Chapter 14, Baley reminisces about his marriage with Jessie and her beliefs. I found this quote very interesting because it sets a theme of a human and robot relationship, of how it exposes Jessie’s beliefs to Baley. There’s a thin line between robots and humans, and through this quote its pretty obvious robots get blame for everything wrong with earth. The story continues to expose characters being prejudice towards robots. Later on the reader finds out that Jessie was part of mediavelist cult. Baley basically analyzes his wife’s resentment and frustrations.

Journal Entry 2

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Analysis of a significant event /passage in Caves of Steel:

“Suppose people started afresh on a new world (how that ran through his mind ever since Dr. Fastolfe had put it there); suppose Bentley, for instance, were to leave Earth; could he get so he didn’t mind working and living alongside robots? Why not? The Spacers themselves did it.” –Elijah

The quote stated above is particularly significant in the novel caves of steel.  Elijah, a character from the novel Caves of Steel, was at one point closed minded about the idea of living along side with robots.  He absolutely hated robots and never even considered the benefits of using robots.  It is also important to note that hatred toward robots was a stereotypical thought within Elijah’s society.  Earlier, Dr. Fastolfe a character which lives alongside robots had told him otherwise.  Dr. Fastolfe carefully explained to Elijah how robots can in fact aid human life.  With one simple, yet intelligent conversation, Dr. Fastolfe had managed to change Elijah’s stubborn aspects of robots. If a similar scene were to occur in the present dealing with a similar scenario, would it also be easy to persuade a person with stereotypical thoughts? I think it’s possible.  It’s actually real easy to do so. The fact the almost everyone in Elijah’s society hated robots,  is similar to how the media in present day society can persuade the masses into thinking and living a certain type of way.  When a person is told something from a more logical aspect, they tend to acknowledge and agree.  Maybe the author of this novel was trying to tell us that we should be more open minded and knowledgeable based off of this scene.

Journal #3: Caves of Steel

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“And she was guilty?”

“She was.”

“Then why was she not stoned?”

“None of the accusers felt he could after Jesus’ statement.  The story is meant to show that there is something even higher than the justice which you have been filled with.  There is a human impulse known as mercy; a human act known as forgiveness.”

“I am not acquainted with those words, partner Elijah.”

“I know” muttered Baley. “I know.”

This is an interesting and important part of the novel from the end of chapter 14 because it just gets down to the raw issue of the whole situation.  It’s interesting in the sense that it explores Baley’s occupation as a law enforcer, while highlighting the fact that even though he obtains such a position, he still can look past the view held in that stature.  There is a line and even though Baley knows where it is, he can cross it if he needs to.  This then interjects with R. Daneel’s complete lack of understanding.  Baley has spent enough time with R. Daneel at this point to realize the gaps in knowledge that R. Daneel possesses and the fact that he only possesses certain human like qualities.  He may be able to produce a smile but concocting a thought process based on a feeling that maybe I shouldn’t do this, will not occur for R. Daneel.  He would not have been moved by Jesus’ statement and would have stoned the woman.  For him, she did the wrong thing and that’s that.  Once R. Daneel decision is made, it’s made.  So when Baley mutters, “I know.” he is just so passed the problem with R. Daneel not understanding basic human emotions and acts because he’s experienced the confusion numerous times in the novel that he’s done trying to explain, for the moment at least.  Baley just feels like he’s wasting his time explaining something that a “thing” will never understand.

Journal Entry 1

Caves of Steel, Comparison to Present day Society

The society within Caves of Steel and present day society are physically different in various ways.  As I picture the scene of Caves of Steel, I image a dark depressing enclosed city without windows or sunlight.  It’s a clear separation of nature from the city.  There are no trees or greenery. It is literally a cave made of steel.  It is a complete artificial society.

In comparison to our society, we are nothing like that.  I believe that man will always try to incorporate nature within their societies.  As we can see today, our cities are filled with natural elements, such as parks, plazas and trees.  Our cities are never enclosed spaces, as we prefer we

Reading Journal #3- Close Analysis of COS 2/27/14

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One part of the novel that stuck with me was when Clousarr struck R.Daneel.  Baley reacted in a way that was defensive.  He exclaimed “What the devil”, and he then “snatched violently at Clousarr”.  Baley knows that Daneel is a robot, but acts as though that blow could have injured him.  Baley was either beginning to connect to Daneel, or the thin line that made him an android was forgotten momentarily.

Daneel then apologizes for hurting Clousarr’s hand. The moment passes and both men remember he is an android again.  Clousarr then compares Baley to an android and any bond between Danell and Baley is broken.  The officers were working pretty well in unison and Clousarr broke it up,  This moment showed that life with both androids and humans working together is possible, but not with extremists among them.

Caves of Steel: Reading Journal Close Analysis

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In Caves of Steel, it showed the building trust of human (Elijah Baley) and robot (Daneel Olivaw). The passage I chose was as follows from the Ending of Chapter 1:

“No, Commissioner.” He drew a deep, sighing breath. “What’s my Partner’s name?”

“R. Daneel Olivaw.”

Baley said, sadly, “This isn’t the time for euphemism, Commissioner. I’m taking the job, so let’s use his full name. Robot Daneel Olivaw.

In the beginning of the story, the Commissioner hired Lije for the job which he didn’t want to accept at first only because of one specific thing. His partner, was a robot. Lije couldn’t trust that robot anywhere near his family or even around him thinking that Daneel would end up backstabbing in the end. From a rough start where even Lije’s wife told him that she scared of Daneel (when at first she was okay with him since she never realized he was one till the news report). Lije began to lighten up a bit about having Daneel as a partner. Being with someone for a long time no matter what they do would make the trust grow and seeing as to how Daneel was almost like a human even when he wasn’t but was trying his best to be for Elijah, made Lije think that he shouldn’t judge someone right away because they’re different. Just give it some time and it’ll eventually work out. Especially when Daneel didn’t understand something such as the bible, Elijah took the time to explain it to him. In the end, they both learned each other’s customs from one another, solved the murder case and walked arm in arm.

Reading Journal summary of Caves of Steel

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The world of caves of steel and our world are pretty different in many ways. However, difference does not keep us apart; friendships may form and could be tighter than any other of the same kind.

“Daneel, will you stay on Earth after the Spacers go?”

R. Daneel said, “I have not been informed. Why do you ask?”

Baley bit his lip, then said, “I didn’t think I would ever say anything like this to anyone like you,

Daneel, but I trust you. I even–admire you.”

Other forms of creature from the outer world may be more advanced in technology and life but, humans have their own advantages as well. Spaces are limited to population; only the good will live, as for humans, everyone has an equal chance and opportunity. Spaces may have high living standards due to the advanced technology yet, humans never gave up; they work hard and improve with years of knowledge, more than any robot can experiences. Although the differences can keep us apart but, there are no reasons for us not to be friends. Through Daneel and Baley, it was understood that different forms can become good friends despite the obstacles.