Destiny vs. Free Will in Isaac Asimov's Writings

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People have debated about free will and fate for thousands of years. Alexander the Great once said, "Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all." Roman poet Virgil took an opposite view stating, "Wherever the fates lead us let us follow." One would expect a great author of science fiction, a genre filled with futuristic happenings based on reason and logic, to take a stand on this issue as well. Isaac Asimov shows through his short stories "Nightfall," "Reason," and "The Evitable Conflict," that an individual can not alter his race's destiny regardless of free will's existence.

In one of Asimov’s earliest and most-loved pieces, “Nightfall,” the theme of man's inability to alter the future, even with the gift of free will, is quite clear. Asimov rejects the age-old adage that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Instead, he emanates a general tone that even those who do know history are doomed to repeat it, as evidenced by the events and people of Lagash.

The actions of the people of Lagash undoubtedly show that they have free will. The reactions of the characters to different events and the different beliefs of the characters are illustrates this. For example, at the beginning of the story, when the main character, Theremon 762, convinces the director of Saro University, Aton 77, to allow him to stay at the university and report on the upcoming events. Aton slowly gives in over the course of their discussion: “‘You may leave,’ [Aton 77] snapped over his shoulder.” Later he replies, “Since your good friend Beenay insists so urgently, I will give you five minutes. Talk away.” Soon after he concedes: “You may stay if you wish, then” (Asimov, “Nightfall” 379-381)...

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... predict the future of a group, although not the actions of an individual. The future of a group is set, yet not the actions of an individual (LaBounty). In “The Evitable Conflict”, this study has been perfected, not by people but by the robots: “But you are telling me, Susan… that Mankind has lost its own say in its future” states Stephen Byerley. “It never had any, really. It was always at the mercy of economic and sociologic forces it did not understand… Now the Machines understand them; and no one can stop them,” Calvin replies (Asimov 272). Asimov places his most powerful idea at the conclusion of his I, Robot series: that the future of mankind had been determined from the beginning.

Thus, through "Nightfall", "Reason", and The Evitable Conflict", Asimov illustrates that destiny is fixed, irrespective of free will. [Insert Concluding Sentences]

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