Isaac Asimov is my favorite author
of all time. One of the many reasons is his ability to make his fantastical
technological fiction so logically consistent. He is considered to be the
father of robotics and if you haven’t read his Robot short story compilations,
go now and be inspired. A foundational
(pun intended) element to Asimov’s robots is the 3 Laws. Much has been written,
primarily by Asimov himself, on their various facets, but I recently had a light bulb moment in regards to a more political application. The 3 Laws are as
follows, from an excellent book (and OK-ish movie) I, Robot,
“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 the orders given 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”
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 the orders given 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”
A full understanding of the laws and their impact on a Robot
is the subject of Asimov’s Robot series and I highly recommend.
My use
of them is in a different realm altogether. Read the first sentence of the
second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence,
“We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and
the
pursuit of Happiness.”
I believe we can take from that sentence the 3 Laws of
Robotics for a Free Society.
The First Law would be:
1: A Free Citizen may
not infringe upon the life of another human being, or, through inaction, allow
a human being to lose their life.
The unalienable Right to Life announces
that all life is equally valid. It announces that all ages, races, classes, and ethnicities have intrinsic value and that we all share the responsibility of
defending each other and of defending the right to defend ourselves. It outlaws
murder; it places a stern disapproval on capital punishment; and discourages all
forms of war, particularly unjust total war. A society which practices
abortion, euthanasia, genetic breeding, and human drug trials is breaking this
law. It sits at the foundation of Freedom. No one who is scared for their life
is truly free.
The Second Law would be:
2: A Free Citizen may
act in accordance with their conscience in all matters, except in cases where
such inclinations would conflict with the First Law.
The unalienable Right to
Liberty is the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Freedom. The
catch phrase “It’s a Free Country, isn’t it?” captures the defiant toddler like
desire we all have to be the masters of our own destiny. While a more adult
approach to life is expected, the ability to do whatever we please should be
valued. I don’t have to ask the government before I travel to another part of
the country. I don’t have to check with my governor before I buy cheese. I don’t
have a supervisor which assigns me a living space. I am free. I pick my leaders
and I pick my leisure. However, this is a qualified provision. I am not free to
kill who I please. I am not free to kill myself. I am not free to withhold
basic human needs from my peers which would result in sickness and death. I am
not free to recklessly pursue enjoyment at the risk of others. On the one hand,
one who takes a life is never truly free of the consequences. On the other
hand, when others are prevented from killing me I’m free to enjoy my life
without fear.
The Third Law would be:
3: A Free Citizen may
pursue what they deem to be the sources of their happiness, insomuch as that
pursuit does not conflict with the first two laws.
The
unalienable Right to pursue Happiness requires a definition. Happiness can be
many things. It can simply be that which makes us smile. It can be what gives
our lives meaning. It can be our children, our toys, our past times, or our
passions. It is impossible to pursue Happiness without Liberty. The freedom to
act however I deem necessary free of fear to achieve Happiness is essential.
Alternatively, the restriction of another’s liberty or taking of another’s life
cannot and will not result in true Happiness.
So,
there you go. Next time you evaluate a law or political stance you should
consider the 3 Laws. A Law which stresses liberty over life (such as Abortion)
or happiness over liberty (Universal Healthcare) should be rejected by Free
Citizens. Comments welcome.
