Robots and Empire by Isac Asimov

Robots and Empire by Isac Asimov

The novel describes the effort of two robots to save the war between settlers and spacers along with their owner Gladia. R.Daneel which is a humanoid robot and R.Giskard which has a special skill to strengthen or weaken the human feelings and if robotic laws permit to wipe off the memory completely.

The robotic laws which can be considered as a ground work of development of robots with intelligence is put forward by Asimov here. as follows

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The basis for the zeroth law which is placed above all unravels in this novel which states as
"A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."

more info on wikipedia

You can find many situations where conflicts arise among these laws. Somehow R.Daneel adopts zeroth law to his circuits of positronic brain. R. Giskard fails to do so because he still cannot accept zeroth law. He thinks and believes humanity is an abstract thing and hence zeroth law has a flaw. Due to this friction he freezes and become inactive. The other question which rises is about how "human beings" can be defined to a robot and by modifying the definitions how robots can be harmful in spite of these laws guiding them is an interesting illustration depicted on the instances which happens on the forbidden planet Solaria.

Apart from being a very good entertaining thriller, this book also make you to think in complete scientific way.

PS: Here is a link which provides 30 robotic laws of Asimov..! an awful reading ..!!