다가온 포스트 휴먼의 시대, 아이작 아시모프 다시 읽기: 로봇시티시리즈『강철도시』, 『벌거벗은태양』, 『열린세계』를중심으로

Abstract

Since his first short story about robots, Robby, Isaac Asimov has continued to craft narratives featuring robots equipped with positronic brain technology. He imagined a robot that incorporated safety principles instead of a cruel robot, and to this end, he devised the three robot principles. His novel predicted the problems of the Anthropocene, such as the Earth’s destroyed ecosystem, population explosion, and food shortage, and accurately predicted scientific and technological advances such as robotics and the positronic brain. Asimov’s novel is a classic that has influenced subsequent writers and filmmakers, establishing a reciprocal relationship that, in turn, shapes advancements in science and technology. In the Robot City series, Asimov set the history of American pioneering as a metaphor and then brought the structure of a mystery novel to its core. By placing Detective Bailey in the detective role and the robot Dani in the partner role, a very unique atmosphere was created by fusing mystery and science fiction. There is a contrast between the degenerated Earth and the space city enjoying a peaceful and advanced civilization, and sensitive issues such as the Frankenstein complex, robot enslavement, and thelimitations of thethreerobot principles are highlighted. ‘C/Fe’, presented by Asimov in the novel, is a symbol that clearly expresses Asimov’s ideal of pursuing a future world created by all humans and non-humans together. Asimov’s concept of C/ Fe unfolds the potential for humans and non-humans to collaborate in rebuilding the world side by side, standing on equal footing.