Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
Villafrancaisnolongeracivilengineerinchargeofanimportantproject.AndthedirectorsofWorldSteelarelosingtheirgripontheindustry-orwill."
"Butyoudon’treallyknowallthis,"insistedByerley,distractedly."Howcanwepossiblytakeachanceonyourbeingright?"
"Youmust.DoyouremembertheMachine’sownstatementwhenyoupresentedtheproblemtohim?Itwas:’Thematteradmitsofnoexplanation.’TheMachinedidnotsaytherewasnoexplanation,orthatitcoulddeterminenoexplanation.Itsimplywasnotgoingtoadmitanyexplanation.Inotherwords,itwouldbeharmfultohumanitytohavetheexplanationknown,andthat’swhywecanonlyguess–andkeeponguessing."
"Buthowcantheexplanationdousharm?Assumethatyouareright,Susan."
"Why,Stephen,ifIamright,itmeansthattheMachineisconductingourfutureforusnotonlysimplyindirectanswertoourdirectquestions,butingeneralanswertotheworldsituationandtohumanpsychologyasawhole.Andtoknowthatmaymakeusunhappyandmayhurtourpride.TheMachinecannot,mustnot,makeusunhappy.
"Stephen,howdoweknowwhattheultimategoodofHumanitywillentail?Wehaven’tatourdisposaltheinfinitefactorsthattheMachinehasatits!Perhaps,togiveyouanotunfamiliarexample,ourentiretechnicalcivilizationhascreatedmoreunhappinessandmiserythanithasremoved.Perhapsanagrarianorpastoralcivilization,withlesscultureandlesspeoplewouldbebetter.
