How we cite our quotes: (Story title.paragraph)
Quote #4
"I accept nothing on authority. A hypothesis must be backed by reason, or else it is worthless—and it goes against all the dictates of logic to suppose that you made me." (Reason.53)
We often think of science as being opposed to religion—even Scientology isn't all that scientific. But here Cutie lays out one of the most important principles of science: "accept nothing on authority." In fact, that's almost the motto of the Royal Society, a British scientific organization. So here's Cutie, who will end up founding a religion, and he's sounding a little scientific if you ask us.
Quote #5
"Now—there isn't a roboticist back at United States Robots that knows what a positronic field is or how it works. And neither do I. Neither do you." (Catch that Rabbit.11)
Asimov made up positronic brains, but in these stories, there are scientists who understand those brains. For instance, in the Introduction, Calvin is described as being able to figure out how positronic brains work. But no one knows how a "positronic field" works. How do you react when you read that? On one hand, it seems like a reminder that science moves forward; on the other hand, it seems like a bit of foreshadowing for "The Evitable Conflict," when the Machines are too complex for the humans to check.
Quote #6
"Right! And if you'll notice, he's been working on your time integration of Equation 22. It comes"—Lanning tapped a yellow fingernail upon the last step—"to the identical conclusion I did, and in a quarter the time. You had no right to neglect the Linger Effect in positronic bombardment." (Liar.147)
Lanning and Bogert don't really get along. In fact, they even fight about science and math. We might expect a discussion of science to be calm and rational and maybe a little boring. But Asimov was a scientist and he knew that real scientists fought about science all the time.