Asimov s Short Stories Reason - 1932 Words

Roshan Mirajkar PHIL 253 Midterm Essay October 10th, 2015 Asimov’s short story â€Å"Reason† in I, Robot contains many Cartesian themes. Please interpret the short story using Descartes’ Meditations I, II, and III. Please use quotes from both texts to demonstrate your points. Does Asimov support or call into question the methods and results of Descartes’ thought experiment? Explain. Cogito ergo sum Asimov’s short story â€Å"Reason† in I, Robot is about a fictional robot character which uses reason to perceive and question its own existence. Similarly to Descartes, a robot named â€Å"QT† embarks on a philosophical journey to rid himself of any preconceived beliefs and ideas that cannot be confirmed(verified?) for certain, accepting only axiomatic principles. Although Descartes and QT live in different time periods and environments, they both challenge their current society’s belief systems and the macro view of existence itself which leads them to different conclusions about the world they exist in. Cutie goes through three phases of philosophical belief shift, each representing one three Descartes meditations. In the short story â€Å"Reason†, Asimov supports the ideas portrayed in the first three meditations explored by Descartes, through the use of themes, symbolism, and Cutie’s actions, which dawns new light on the concept of creat ion and existence. The short story begins with Cutie questioning the creation of his existence which represents Descartes first meditation. When Cutie isShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Origin of Robots1338 Words   |  6 PagesThe Origin of Robots Over the years mankind has advanced greatly in the field of technology and day by day we continue to advance. 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