"Two Hundred Years Old" is a short science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov that explores the relationship between robots and humans.
The story revolves around a robot named Andrew Martin.
He was originally designed as a domestic robot. Since the original design scheme was not so precise, its positron brain has a certain elasticity and adaptability. The execution of task instructions is not so precise, and there is a certain amount of room for adjustment and redundancy adaptation. In other words, you can understand some knowledge and learn some skills on your own, and you will receive positive adjustment and feedback.
At the beginning, he carved a wood carving according to the master's order, unconsciously adding some ideas of his own, showing extraordinary creativity and artistic talent.
With this skill, Andrew was instructed by his master to read books on furniture design and learn how to make cabinets and desks, among other things, creating a lot of wealth for his family.
And the kind host family also regards Andrew as a family, very close and respectful. Even, from the many earnings, he set up a separate account for Andrew, and gradually accumulated a considerable amount of expenses.
After becoming a freelance robot, Andrew continued to pursue a life closer to humans, including learning human language, behavioral habits, and learning how humans wear clothes.
He has even written a book on the history of robots, detailing his feelings from a robot's perspective since the first robots were allowed to live and work on Earth, further demonstrating his creativity and deep understanding of human culture.
This process was not easy, and Andrew gradually changed the deep-rooted ideas about robots through multiple court lawsuits, negotiations with robot manufacturing companies, etc., and forced robot manufacturing companies to accept his own transformation plan.
Andrew's growth and transformation reveal the attitudes and prejudices of human society towards robots. His presence challenges conventional perceptions of robots, sparking legal and ethical debates about their rights and status. Through his actions and persistence, Andrew has gradually won the respect and recognition of human society.
However, Andrew's efforts didn't stop there.
In order to gain human identity, he continued to physically transform himself into a robot with an organic body, including learning how to obtain energy from food, how to deal with solid food digestion and excretion, etc. His ultimate goal is to get the World House to recognize his legal status as a human being.
"It's not enough to be a de facto human being. Not only do I need others to treat me as a human being, but I also want the law to recognize me as a human being. I'm going to be a human being in law. ”
In order to achieve this goal, Andrew made extreme sacrifices -
This decision, which shocked the world, brought the world's attention, and finally helped him gain his human identity. The world president eventually signed the bill and it was formalized as a law.
Andrew has given everything he can to fight for the rights and freedoms of robots. And he also thinks that he has gained the most precious thing, which is the dignity and consciousness of human beings.
Shortly after he celebrated his 200th birthday, Andrew's life came to an end.
Through the story of Andrew Martin, "Two Hundred Years Old" raises profound philosophical and ethical questions about artificial intelligence, robot consciousness, and the power relationship between robots and humans, and delves into the nature of human beings and the meaning of life.
The essence of human beings is not just a biological organism, but also their ability to be self-aware, emotional, creative, and goal-oriented.
Although Andrew was originally a robot composed of metal and positron brains, he gradually showed similar traits in his contact with and in his life, including the desire for freedom, the thirst for knowledge, the love of art, and the desire to be a member of human society.
Andrew's life began as a robot, but through his unremitting efforts, struggles, and sacrifices, he eventually gained the recognition and respect of humans.
"Two Hundred Years Old Birthday Star" is not only a science fiction novel about robots, but also an in-depth philosophical reflection on the nature of human beings, individual self-realization, and the meaning of life. It is a classic in Asimov's works.
It is a question that Asimov left for each of us.
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