In Isaac Asimov’s short story “Reason”, the author provides a detailed account of a robot’s creation and upbringing. The robot, named Cutie was created on earth and shipped to space in separate parts; therefore he has no knowledge of Earth or any other bodies in space. Cutie’s stubbornness and reasoned thinking led one of the scientists to comment, “Oh, Jupiter, a robot Descartes” (p. 51). Cutie has a lot of similarities with René Descartes. Both Cutie and Descartes possess infinite curiosity, doubt about uncertain things or events, and also use rational thinking and reasoning to explain uncertain materials and circumstances. Throughout the story, the scientists attempt to persuade Cutie of his origins, but to no avail. Cutie’s beliefs are
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He reflects on all the false knowledge he has acquired throughout his life and how he hopes to eradicate those beliefs in favor of real and reasoned beliefs. When the meditator dreams, he is unable to notice what is real and what is imaginary. He feels that the senses are deceptive. When receiving further explanation on the existence of earth, Cutie responds by saying, “Since when is the evidence of our senses any match for the clear light of rigid reason?" (p. 58). Similar to the meditator, Cutie views the senses as unreliable and unworthy of being used as evidence or reason. “Nevertheless I have long had fixed in my mind the belief that an all−powerful God existed by whom I have been created such as I am” (p. 8). Even though the meditator can doubt many things, he believes in an all-powerful being that has created him. He also views God as “good” and would never deceive him, even though he states that he cannot doubt the fact that God would permit for him to be deceived. Cutie has the same attachment to “the Master”, which is why he remains highly skeptical and unreceptive of the scientists’ words. The meditator and Cutie, while in completely different settings, demonstrate the effect that uncertainty and doubtfulness can have on reasoning and
He reflects on all the false knowledge he has acquired throughout his life and how he hopes to eradicate those beliefs in favor of real and reasoned beliefs. When the meditator dreams, he is unable to notice what is real and what is imaginary. He feels that the senses are deceptive. When receiving further explanation on the existence of earth, Cutie responds by saying, “Since when is the evidence of our senses any match for the clear light of rigid reason?" (p. 58). Similar to the meditator, Cutie views the senses as unreliable and unworthy of being used as evidence or reason. “Nevertheless I have long had fixed in my mind the belief that an all−powerful God existed by whom I have been created such as I am” (p. 8). Even though the meditator can doubt many things, he believes in an all-powerful being that has created him. He also views God as “good” and would never deceive him, even though he states that he cannot doubt the fact that God would permit for him to be deceived. Cutie has the same attachment to “the Master”, which is why he remains highly skeptical and unreceptive of the scientists’ words. The meditator and Cutie, while in completely different settings, demonstrate the effect that uncertainty and doubtfulness can have on reasoning and