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While Reading 2

This document provides summaries of three short stories by Isaac Asimov that explore issues relating to the Three Laws of Robotics: 1) It summarizes the problem with the robot Speedy in "Runaround" which involved conflicts between the Second and Third Laws that prevented it from completing its task. 2) It discusses Dr. Susan Calvin's views of robots as presented in another story, seeing them as better than humans. 3) It answers comprehension questions about the short story "Reason", including quotes uttered by various characters and what or who they were referring to.

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Edwing Artola
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59 views

While Reading 2

This document provides summaries of three short stories by Isaac Asimov that explore issues relating to the Three Laws of Robotics: 1) It summarizes the problem with the robot Speedy in "Runaround" which involved conflicts between the Second and Third Laws that prevented it from completing its task. 2) It discusses Dr. Susan Calvin's views of robots as presented in another story, seeing them as better than humans. 3) It answers comprehension questions about the short story "Reason", including quotes uttered by various characters and what or who they were referring to.

Uploaded by

Edwing Artola
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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While Reading

Read The Three Laws of Robotics and Dr. Susan Calvin. Then answer the questions.

1. In what order should a robot do these three things: protect itself, protect human beings,
obey orders?

A robot should first protect human beings; second, obey orders; an third, protect itself.

2. What were Dr. Calvin´s views on robots?

She saw robots as friend to help humankind. She thought they were cleaner, better creatures than
human beings, and also stronger, more useful, and more capable.

Read Runaround, and then explain the problem with Speedy in relation to the Three Laws of
Robotics.

1. Which law sent Speedy to the selenium pool in the first place?

The Second Law: a robot must obey the orders given by human beings.

2. Which law prevented Speedy from collecting the selenium?

The Third Law: a robot must protect itself (in this case, from the dangerous gas above the selenium
pool.

3. Which law prevented Speedy from returning from the station?

The Second Law: a robot must obey the orders given by human beings. (So when Speedy removed
himself from the immediate danger of the pool, the Second Law came into effect again and sent
him back to the pool.)
4. Which law came into effect when Powell put himself in danger?

The First Law: a robot must not allow a human being to come harm. (When Speedy realized that
Powell was in danger of dying, the First law then took over from the others.)

5. When Donovan sent Speedy put the second time, how did he make sure that the same
problem did not happen again?

He made sure that the First Law was in effect, by explaining to Speedy that the selenium was
urgently needed in order to keep him and Powell alive.

Read Reason. Who said these words, and to whom? What or who were they talking about?

1. “There should be a better explanation.”

Cutie to Powell, about the reason for his existence as he thought it was improbable that he had
been made by Powell and Donovan.

2. “A black material with tiny shining dots on it.”

Cutie to Powell, about the space and the stars.

3. “You are a very inefficient and short-lived piece of equipment.”

Cutie to Powell, about human beings.

4. “From now on I serve the Master.”

Cutie to Powell and Donovan, about the energy converter, which cutie believed had created him.
5. “It could run directly into the path of our Earth beam.”

Powell to Donovan, about the electron storm which might cross the energy beam the converter
was sending to Earth.

6. “He´ll have to change his mind when he sees that.”

Donovan to Powell, about building another robot in front of Cutie´s eyes, so that Cutie would be
forced to believe that Powell and Donovan made him.

7. “What does it matter what he believes?”

Powell to Donovan, about Cutie and the fact that Cutie´s beliefs did not prevent him from doing his
job perfectly.

8. “I hope it´s good, or I won´t allow it to touch the controls.”

Miller to Powell, about the new robot, Cutie, which as yet he knew nothing about.

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