THE ZOMBIE PHILOSOPHER

In Wagner’s novella, a man buys a robotic servant with remarkable capabilities.

Edward Collier is a software consultant living a comfortable life in a futuristic society. Technology has improved greatly. There are flying cars, electricity largely comes from solar power, and humanoid servants are available for purchase. In this society, crime is rare, and poverty has been virtually eradicated (“The social safety net had been extended to the point that everyone received a stipend sufficient to live on; nobody had to work unless they wanted to”). Edward is extremely curious about the robot servants. He orders a male and waits the two weeks for delivery. Once “Brent” arrives, Edward sets about programming him. Brent will need to cook, but Edward also wants him to play chess and tennis. The robot is performing well, and all seems promising. A burglar breaks into Edward’s home, and Brent capably defends life and property, shooting and killing the armed thief. The burglar’s family files a wrongful death lawsuit, but the judge dismisses it. During the hearing, however, Brent says something curious: He wants his freedom. He has gained so much knowledge that he now wants to become a philosopher, writer, and lecturer—a development that intrigues and pleases Edward. Together, he and Brent decide to explore the idea of whether he’s conscious or if consciousness is even possible for robots. Wagner’s novella, set in a utopia where most social problems have disappeared, gamely explores the concepts of sentience, AI, and free will. Edward delves deeply into technology, but the story is really about Brent, who’s concerned with epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. His rather quick journey into philosophy is described well, with an eye toward ethics and morals. Brent’s ponderings about whether he can be conscious are interestingly portrayed throughout the story.

A thought-provoking novella that carefully explores the role and reach of technology.