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Essay / Cutie as a metaphor for the mind in Asimov's reason
Cutie as a metaphor for the mind in Asimov's reason Using one's reason to the fullest is considered a virtue in our society. Reason and logic have a lucid quality that reassures human interaction. Ultimately, humanity values itself for its ability to logically explain our observations using reason. Another facet of the human spirit is to be curious, to constantly ask questions about our surroundings. These two sides are shown by the main character, "Cutie", in Asimov's "Reason". This thought-provoking story uses Cutie, a robot, as a metaphor for the human spirit and, on a larger scale, humanity itself. A closer analysis of "Reason" will allow a deeper understanding of: (1) how the process of reasoning is used to formulate a belief by Cutie, (2) how the human mind uses reason to deal with what is unknown to the 'humanity. “Reason,” Asimov cleverly uses a robot as an analogy for the human mind. The reader becomes aware of this as the conversation between Powell, the human supervisor, and Cutie unfolds at the beginning of the story. Cutie possesses an innate curiosity and asks a question that has preoccupied human beings since the dawn of humanity: what is the purpose of my existence? It is a symbol of the curious nature of the human mind. Cutie also uses the word "intuition" (Asimov 96), which also indicates that Cutie is Asimov's representation of human nature. The speech with Powell also allows the reader to see how Cutie uses reason to explain her existence. In doing so, Asimov shows how a human mind can reason and formulate a belief. To resolve the uncertainty of her existence, Cutie begins her reasoning from the concrete...... middle of paper ......l with the abstract and the unknown aspects of life (e.g. death, existence, etc.) by building belief systems that enable a useful life. On a large scale, society can also create belief systems to explain the existence of humanity and observations of this universe. Whether these beliefs are illusions or the absolute truth does not affect the functioning of our society. The question Asimov leaves in the reader's mind is: "Is our society built on a web of beliefs that creates a comfortable illusion of all observations?" Will we ever know the truth about abstract questions about life and the REASON for our existence? Or will we always live with inaccurate beliefs – based on reason and incorrect assumptions – to resolve these questions. These thought-provoking questions shake the reader's confidence in humanity's ability to find the truth through correct reasoning..