Additional Information on Robots
Many themes are explored in the Armitage III features, but primary
among them is how humanity and life should be defined, and where sentient,
yet artificically created beings, might fit into the chain of life. This
page explores questions raised by the events of the series and the world
it takes place in.
Robotic Rights
The question of whether robots should have rights equivalent to humans
or, indeed, at all, is a major part of Dual-Matrix. Armitage, of course,
as a robot, and Ross, as a robot’s husband, feel robots should be granted
all of the same rights and privileges that human beings are. Strings and
his people, on the other hand, feel that robots are objects and deserve
nothing- human rights and advantages should be reserved for humans only.
These are the two sides of the argument embodied by people who truly care
about the precepts involved. Demitrio and O’Hara, though on opposite sides
of the issue, have the same basic motive- desire to see their side advanced
politically or monetarily. Armitage and Strings both care about the robots
and humans involved, and are thus interested in the issue itself instead
of what they personally can get out of winning.
Neither Armitage nor Strings looks at the issue in a detached manner,
and so both miss the obvious answer- compromise. There are many robots
who lack the intelligence and ‘soul’ to be considered people--something
which can be proven scientifically. This includes First-types and lesser
Second-types. Such robots wouldn’t know what to do with rights if they
received them, and wouldn’t even be aware that they had rights at all.
Humans, on the other hand, can benefit greatly from giving advanced Second-types
and, by extension, Thirds recognition as people. A unified society works
better than a fractured one, and the amalgamation of intelligent robots
and humans into a whole people would make things easier for everyone. Of
course, Armitage and Strings are both fanatics as far as robot rights are
concerned, and so can’t see any victory but a total one. Viewpoints like
theirs make it likely that a truly integrated society is unlikely in the
near future.
Robotic Afterlife
The Thirds in Armitage III are as close to human as one can get while still
being a robot. They think, feel, create, destroy, and everything else that
humans do. Do they, then, have a soul? The answer seems to be yes, albeit
one made of data, quite different from a human’s. When Armitage and Ross
enter cyberspace, they project their robotic souls into it, that portion
of themselves that is pure data. That is why Ross is limited there- he
isn’t fully robotic. Once they arrive they find Julian alive and well,
again existing only as pure data within the program. This is his soul,
all that is left of him, but it is whole because he made a backup of his
thoughts before he died.
The murdered Thirds also continue to exist as data in cyberspace, but
cannot speak because they did not back themselves up and so data is missing.
They still think and feel, however, these spirits in the machine, and are
willing to help Julian and Armitage when the opportunity arises. They do
so during the battle at Dunwich Hill by showing all of the Seconds watching
what the true cost of the new treaty is and perhaps awakening their souls
a little as well.
In a way, the Thirds are lucky. After they die, their souls go to a
place where they feel like they belong and can still interact with the
human world in some ways. In addition, they can be visited by the people
they love. Robots or humans, data or spirit- does it really make a difference?
The continuation of the Thirds after death is just one more extrapolation
on the theme that it is who you are, not what you are, that matters.
Armitage III, Poly-Matrix, and Dual-Matrix are TM
and Copyright © 1994-2003 Pioneer Entertainment Inc. (USA)
Used without permission. No infringement or challenges
to ownership intended.
Page created by Steve
Miller, November 18, 2003