Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
StephenByerleycontinued,"AndalthoughtheMachinesarenothingbutthevastestconglomerationofcalculatingcircuitseverinvented,theyarestillrobotswithinthemeaningoftheFirstLaw,andsoourEarthwideeconomyisinaccordwiththebestinterestsofMan.ThepopulationofEarthknowsthattherewillbenounemployment,noover-productionorshortages.Wasteandfaminearewordsinhistorybooks.Andsothequestionofownershipofthemeansofproductionbecomesobsolescent.Whoeverownedthem(ifsuchaphrasehasmeaning),aman,agroup,anation,orallmankind,theycouldbeutilizedonlyastheMachinesdirected.-Notbecausemenwereforcedtobutbecauseitwasthewisestcourseandmenknewit.
"Itputsanendtowar–notonlytothelastcycleofwars,buttothenextandtoallofthem.Unless-"
Alongpause,andDr.Calvinencouragedhimbyrepetition."Unless-"
Thefirecrouchedandskitteredalongalog,thenpoppedup.
"Unless,"saidtheCo-ordinator,"theMachinesdon’tfulfilltheirfunction."
"Isee.Andthatiswherethosetriflingmaladjustmentscomeinwhichyoumentionedawhileago–steel,hydroponicsandsoon."
"Exactly.Thoseerrorsshouldnotbe.Dr.Silvertellsmetheycannotbe."
"Doeshedenythefacts?Howunusual!"
"No,headmitsthefacts,ofcourse.Idohimaninjustice.Whathedeniesisthatanyerrorinthemachineisresponsiblefortheso-called(hisphrase)errorsintheanswers.
