wanstrom offers insights on the prosthetic personhood in Karel Capek's R. U. R. (Rossum's Universal Robots, 1920). The play provides a defining template for all subsequent robot stories, not only through its defictions of artificial persons but also through the very neologism robot itself, which stems from the Czech word for worker and slave. The term is inappropriate, for the play offers a scathing critique of assembly-line production and sheds light on dehumanizing conditions of the people forced to work in this way.
The following paper is a study case showing the way in which the debate and attitudes on creating artificial life were shaped by Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ and how this debate was inherited by dystopian author Carel Capek in ‘Rossum’s Universal Robots’. Paralels are made at the level of simbolic topography, classic scientific discourse, its relationship with gender constructs and the growing field of disability studies. Capek’s thesis seems to be more complex than many have assumed. Rather than simply offering a radical critique of man’s endeavour to create artificial life, the author seems to favour mimesis rather than the scientific attempt at improving nature itself.
In Karel Čapek's R.U.R., the mass production of an artificial workforce precipitates several catastrophes that culminate with humanity's extinction. For Harry Domin, Central Director of Rossum's Universal Robots, to build Robot slaves is to liberate human beings from the brute necessity of work and secure unconditioned and unconditional self-realization. Yet the attempt to achieve human autonomy through the automation of labor ultimately results in an autoimmune disorder, in which human life extinguishes itself.
Remembering the Ancients: Observations on Technoscience in Čapek’s R.U.R
The technoscientific consequences of both the human drives for glory on the one hand and a comfortable life on the other potentially threaten human existence. R.U.R., a science fiction play by Karel Čapek, bridges ancient writers and contemporary technoscientific endeavors, encouraging us to consider these issues in light of persistent human nature.
Primo Search
Find Books, eBooks, Articles, DVDs, and Streaming Videos
We suggest using the recommended databases first, but Google Scholar can offer additional sources.
General Search Tips
Begin your research with an initial search in Primo, and then explore subject-specific databases for more targeted results.
Utilize Boolean search terms to enhance your search effectiveness: AND narrows results to those containing both search terms; OR expands results to include either search term (not necessarily both); and NOT eliminates results containing the specified term.
Commence with a general search, refining it to become more specific as needed. If you possess a basic understanding of your desired focus, search using a broad term and narrow it down based on available resources.
Examine the subject terms and keywords used in the articles you discover. If they appear relevant, consider incorporating them into your search terms. Should your results be too extensive, add supplementary search terms to refine your inquiry further.
To search for a specific phrase, enclose it in quotation marks. This ensures the search engine looks for the exact phrase, rather than each word individually. For instance, searching "To be or not to be" will yield that precise phrase, rather than individual words.
To locate a word or phrase within an article PDF, e-book, or webpage, use the CTRL and F keys to open a search box that scans the text within a document. Remember to maintain a formal tone and employ an informative writing style in English throughout your research process.