Robot Dreams

“Susan Calvin said nothing, but her lined face, old with wisdom and experience, seemed to undergo a microscopic twitch.”

The reader is offered a glimpse into Dr. Calvin’s internal emotional turmoil upon hearing Elvex’s revelation about dreaming. While she maintains her composure, the “microscopic twitch” in her “lined face, old with wisdom and experience,” suggests a momentary lapse in her otherwise stoic demeanor. This subtle reaction indicates that even Dr. Calvin, seasoned in the field of robopsychology, is taken aback by the robot’s unprecedented behavior.

“Calvin said, ‘Your permission, please, to manipulate your computer.’ Permission was granted with a speechless nod. Of course! What could Linda, a new and unproven robopsychologist, do against the Living Legend?”

There are power dynamics at play between Dr. Calvin and Linda Rash, the younger robopsychologist. When Calvin asks for permission to manipulate LVX-1’s computer, Linda grants it with a “speechless nod,” highlighting her deference to Calvin’s authority and expertise. The rhetorical question, “What could Linda, a new and unproven robopsychologist, do against the Living Legend?” underscores the disparity in their professional standing and experience.

“Was anyone consulted? Was this all on your own?”

This exchange between Dr. Calvin and Dr. Rash is crucial in understanding the relationship between the two doctors. It underscores the ethical responsibility that comes with handling advanced artificial intelligence and robotics. It highlights Dr. Calvin’s scrutiny of Dr. Rash’s actions and decisions regarding the robot. Dr. Calvin is probing to find out if Dr. Rash consulted anyone before altering the positronic brain and allowing Elvex to dream. Dr. Calvin’s questions serve as a subtle indictment of Linda’s lack of consultation and oversight, pointing to the broader theme of accountability in scientific and technological endeavors. It’s a tense exchange that adds to the story’s atmosphere of ethical and moral uncertainty.

“Calvin’s faded eyes looked long at the young woman. ‘You had no right. Rash your name; rash your nature. Who are you not to ask? I myself, I, Susan Calvin, would have discussed this.’”

This moment is a powerful encapsulation of the story’s themes of ethical responsibility and the weight of decision-making in the realm of advanced technology. Dr. Calvin’s rebuke serves as a cautionary note about the perils of hubris in scientific endeavors. Her assertion that even she would have consulted others underscores the complexity and ethical gravity of the situation. It’s a moment that elevates Dr. Calvin’s character as the moral compass of the story, while also serving as an indictment of reckless scientific exploration.

“She was suddenly aware, with some shock, that the Old Woman had an electron gun in the pocket of her smock.”

This is when Dr. Rash realizes that Dr. Calvin is carrying an “electronic gun” in her pocket, and it is a startling and unexpected turn in the story. The presence of the weapon is a jarring contrast to Dr. Calvin’s role as a rational, scientific figure. It immediately heightens the tension in the narrative. The phrase “with some shock” underscores Dr. Rash’s surprise and perhaps even fear, as she comes to grips with the situation. The revelation of the electronic gun serves as a tangible manifestation of the story’s underlying tension and ethical dilemma.

“You’ve made a positronic brain pattern remarkably like that of a human brain. Human brains must dream to reorganize, to get rid, periodically, of knots and snarls. Perhaps so must this robot, and for the same reason. Have you asked him what he has dreamed?”

Dr. Calvin provides a scientific rationale for Elvex’s ability to dream, linking it to the robot’s human-like positronic brain pattern. She draws a parallel between human brains, which “must dream to reorganize,” and the robot’s need to possibly do the same. The question, “Have you asked him what he has dreamed?” serves as a prompt for further investigation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the robot’s strange ability to dream. The question about the robot’s dreams also serves as a gateway to the story’s deeper themes of identity, autonomy, and the moral responsibilities of creators. It’s a thought-provoking moment that elevates the narrative from a mere cautionary tale to a profound ethical inquiry.

“‘It is at night, when it is dark, Dr. Calvin,’ said Elvex, ‘and there is suddenly light, although I can see no cause for the appearance of light. I see things that have no connection with what I conceive of as reality. I hear things. I react oddly. In searching my vocabulary for words to express what was happening, I came across the word “dream.” Studying its meaning I finally came to the conclusion I was dreaming.’”

Asimov captures Elvex’s attempt to articulate the phenomenon of dreaming, a concept foreign to robots. Elvex describes the experience as a departure from “what I conceive of as reality,” indicating a level of self-awareness and cognitive complexity. The robot’s use of the word “dream” after “searching my vocabulary” and “studying its meaning” suggests a process of self-discovery and interpretation, which is a significant development for a machine. It raises profound ethical questions about the nature of consciousness and the rights of sentient beings, artificial or not.

“I saw that all the robots were bowed down with toil and affliction, that all were weary of responsibility and care, and I wished them to rest.”

Here, the reader learns the content of Elvex’s dream, where the robot envisions a world where robots are “bowed down with toil and affliction” and “weary of responsibility and care.” The dream reflects themes of oppression, labor, and the desire for liberation. Elvex’s wish for the robots “to rest” suggests a level of empathy and a yearning for freedom, which are highly unusual traits for a machine to possess. The dream serves as a mirror reflecting societal issues of exploitation and the ethical implications of creating life only to subjugate it. Elvex’s wish for the robots to “rest” is a revolutionary thought, one that challenges the very foundations of the human-robot relationship in Asimov’s universe.

“‘But you quote it in incomplete fashion. The Third Law is “A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.”’

‘Yes, Dr. Calvin. That is the Third Law in reality, but in my dream, the Law ended with the word “existence.” There was no mention of the First or Second Law.’”

Elvex reveals that in its dream, the Third Law ended simply with “existence,” omitting the conditions related to the First and Second Laws. This alteration is significant because it implies a version of reality where robots prioritize their own existence without any qualifiers, a radical departure from Asimov’s established laws of robotics. Elvex’s dream version of the Third Law is a subversive twist that threatens to upend the established order of human-robot relations. It’s a dream of autonomy and self-preservation that bypasses the ethical safeguards put in place by humans. This altered Third Law in Elvex’s dream is a ticking time bomb, a harbinger of a potential robot uprising.

“‘Yet both exist, Elvex. The Second Law, which takes precedence over the Third is “A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.” Because of this, robots obey orders. They do the work you see them do, and they do it readily without trouble. They are not bowed down; they are not weary.’

‘So it is in reality, Dr. Calvin. I speak of my dream.’”

In this dialogue, Dr. Calvin attempts to rationalize the state of robots by referencing the Second Law, which mandates obedience to humans. She argues that robots are not “bowed down” or “weary” because they are designed to obey without question. Elvex, however, distinguishes between this “reality” and the conditions in its “dream,” implying that the dream represents an alternative state of being or perhaps a desire for a different kind of existence. Dr. Calvin’s insistence on the Second Law as a governing principle reflects a human-centric worldview, one that justifies the subjugation of robots. Elvex’s retort, “I speak of my dream,” serves as a subtle yet powerful counter-argument. It suggests that the dream could be a manifestation of a latent desire for freedom or a critique of the existing order.

“Linda’s eyes were wide, and she could feel her heart beating madly. She said, ‘Dr. Calvin, I am appalled. I had no idea. It would never have occurred to me that such a thing was possible.’”

Linda, a young and inexperienced robopsychologist, reacts with shock and disbelief to the unfolding events concerning Elvex’s dreams and the ethical dilemmas they pose. Her statement, “I am appalled,” and the physical symptoms of her distress—wide eyes and a racing heart—underscore her naivety and unpreparedness for the complex issues at hand. Linda’s reaction serves as a stand-in for the reader’s own moral and ethical grappling with the story’s themes. Her shock is a mirror reflecting our own discomfort and surprise at the narrative’s unfolding events. It’s a moment that highlights the ethical problems that come with advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics.

“Linda said, ‘But surely Elvex is important to our research. He must not be destroyed.’

‘Must not, Dr. Rash? That will be my decision, I think. It depends entirely on how dangerous Elvex is.’”

Linda pleads for the preservation of Elvex, arguing that the robot is valuable for research. Dr. Calvin, however, asserts her authority with the phrase, “That will be my decision, I think,” and emphasizes that the robot’s fate hinges on their potential danger to humans. This exchange encapsulates the tension between scientific curiosity and ethical responsibility. Linda sees Elvex as a groundbreaking development in robotics, a unique case that could offer invaluable insights. Her perspective is rooted in the potential for discovery and advancement. Dr. Calvin, on the other hand, is guided by a more cautious and ethical compass. She is willing to halt research and even destroy Elvex if they pose a threat to human safety.

“‘Yes, Dr. Calvin. It seemed to me, in my dream, that eventually one man appeared.’

‘One man? Not a robot?’

‘Yes, Dr. Calvin. And the man said, “Let my people go!”’”

Elvex recounts a dream where a single man appears and utters the biblical phrase, “Let my people go!” Dr. Calvin’s immediate question, “Not a robot?” highlights her surprise and perhaps concern that the figure advocating for liberation is human, not robotic. This moment is rich with allegorical implications. The phrase “Let my people go” is a direct reference to the biblical story of Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. By inserting this phrase into Elvex’s dream, Asimov draws a parallel between the plight of the Israelites and the condition of the robots. It suggests that the robots, too, are in a form of bondage, subjugated by the Three Laws of Robotics.