Я, Робот
Evidence
That’sRuleTwotoarobot.Also,every’good’humanbeingissupposedtoloveothersashimself,protecthisfellowman,riskhislifetosaveanother.That’sRuleOnetoarobot.Toputitsimply–ifByerleyfollowsalltheRulesofRobotics,hemaybearobot,andmaysimplybeaverygoodman."
"But,"saidQuinn,"you’retellingmethatyoucanneverprovehimarobot."
"Imaybeabletoprovehimnotarobot"
"That’snottheproofIwant."
"You’llhavesuchproofasexists.Youaretheonlyoneresponsibleforyourownwants."
HereLanning’smindleapedsuddenlytothestingofanidea,"Hasitoccurredtoanyone,"hegroundout,"thatdistrictattorneyisaratherstrangeoccupationforarobot?Theprosecutionofhumanbeings–sentencingthemtodeath–bringingabouttheirinfiniteharm-"
Quinngrewsuddenlykeen,"No,youcan’tgetoutofitthatway.Beingdistrictattorneydoesn’tmakehimhuman.Don’tyouknowhisrecord?Don’tyouknowthatheboaststhathehasneverprosecutedaninnocentman;thattherearescoresofpeopleleftuntriedbecausetheevidenceagainstthemdidn’tsatisfyhim,eventhoughhecouldprobablyhavearguedajuryintoatomizingthem?Thathappenstobeso."
Tanning’sthincheeksquivered,"No,Quinn,no.ThereisnothingintheRulesofRoboticsthatmakesanyallowanceforhumanguilt.Arobotmaynotjudgewhetherahumanbeingdeservesdeath.Itisnotforhimtodecide.Hemaynotharmahuman-varietyskunk,orvarietyangel."
SusanCalvinsoundedtired.
