I,Robot -- What Is Your Purpose?

In the futuristic world of I,Robot, robots are like iPods today; almost everybody has one.

All robots are designed to follow their masters’ orders, period. For this reason U.S. Robotics manufactures their merchandise with a brain only. These humanoid machines have no need for a conscience.

However there is one robot named Sunny who is created by his “father” with a special purpose: To function independently from the central super-computer, Viki. Sunny's designer, Dr. Landing, gives him an extra “positronic brain,” which sets him apart from his mechanical peers. This separate consciousness allows him to override the Three Laws of Robotics (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 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.)

Sunny is unique because he was designed with something like a soul. Therefore he dares to think about purpose; he dares to dream. The fact that he cares about purpose proves that he was created for a purpose by his “father,” as Sunny calls his designer, Dr. Landing.

Similarly, the fact that human beings care about purpose proves that we were created for a purpose. If God did not create us for a purpose, then the concept of purpose would never cross our minds. If God did not create humanity for a purpose, then the world is full of billions of two-legged, thinking, talking accidents.

Another hint that we were created by God is that we have the power to choose. Likewise, in I,Robot, Sunny could not have been rolled off the mass-production line. He was created carefully by his “father” to function as something besides a mindless drone.

Evolution says that consciousness is an accident, but this is impossible. Consciousness implies purposefulness. If we were nothing more than minerals and moisture then we would function by logic only. But everything that makes us human defies logic.

The fact that Sunny had a soul made it possible for him to appreciate something as illogical as liberty. It gave him the ability to comprehend the value of life. For this reason, he could ally with those who cared about a moral right. Similarly, for us humans, as long as we acknowledge our spiritual roots we will appreciate moral uprightness. As long as we draw near to God, we will maintain our ethical bearings. Apart from God we will devolve into either heartless machines or senseless animals.

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