Asimov Reading Response

First, sorry about the lateness of this post. I did not come on to post or check until after the deadline.

There are several similarities between 1984 and Robot Dreams. Both are told in a high tech future. Both feature a government that oppressed and used a helpless race of workers. Both Governments will kill anyone who challenges them. (pg.10-11)

The list of differences is longer. Robot Dreams is written from the point of view of the overlords, and they don't know exactly what type of rebellion that they couldface from the robots. (all of pg.9) In 1984 the Party knows exactly how to look for rebellion and what to to with trouble makers.

I think that if George Orwell and Isaac Asimov were to have dinner Orwell would have told Asimov, "Well, I'm glad that somebody was paying attention."

THe two authors would most likely agree that unchecked power will corrupt people. They would also agree that giving this generation a warning would be the best way to try and stop the tyranny, since both of them wrote books doing just that.

I think that they would disagree on whether or not the individuals could actually change the government after it has come to power. In 1984 all resistance is futile. The individual is crushed and only the Party survives. After reading Robot Dreams, i was left with the impression that the robots actually have a chance, "...What might this have brought about as robotic brains grew more and more complex..."(pg. 9 para. 6)

Watts Reading Response

Watts thesis is that there is something out there in the world that will help us figure out the meaning of life, but it is so hard to grasp that it is almost taboo. (pg. 6 para. 3)

Watts views religion as a social institution that used to help men discover truthes about the universe. He thinks that in this day and age those truths are not as relevant as they used to be. (pg.4-5 para. 2-3)

Watts believes that since we are a part of nature, it is wrong to insist that humans "conquer" nature. In order to conquer something you must come from beyond, but humans come from inside the universe. (pg. 8-9 para. 3-1)

Watts believes that the new experience a new understanding of what humanity is. 9pg.11 para. 2)

Watts believe that myths are stories where we use symbols in an attempt to teach about human existance. They should just be look upon as symbols. (pg.s 12-13 para. 2-1)

Watts says that we must train ourselves to think in terms of more than just an ego. it will just take practice. (pg. 20-21 para. 2)


Watts claims that people are just flashes of energy that are forms of the higher being. (pg. 12 para. 1) In 1984 the Party views itself the same way. The people are not the reprentaions of power. The Party holds all of the power and does not need any titles or special lineages. The Party takes anyone and everyone, in an attempt continue on. Their is no hereditary passing on of power, only the Party.