The ELI Event B007R5LTNS

the console and got out her notebook. “Did you study those poetry web sites I recommended?”
    “Yes, and I chose one verse in particular to ask you about.”
    “Great. Which one is that?”
    “Allow me to read it to you.” Somewhat hesitantly, he recited:
    Out of the night that covers me
    Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
    I thank whatever gods may be
    For my unconquerable soul.

    In the fell clutch of circumstance
    I have not winced nor cried aloud.
    Beneath the bludgeoning of chance
    My head is bloody, but unbowed.

    Beyond this place of wrath and tears
    Looms but the Horror of the shade,
    And yet, the menace of the years
    Finds and shall find me unafraid.

    It matters not how strait the gate,
    How charged with punishments the scroll;
    I am the master of my fate:
    I am the captain of my soul.
    The scientists silently looked at each other.
    “Do you know it?” Eli finally asked.
    Sanderson spoke first. “Yeah, I think that’s Invictus , by, um...”
    “William Ernest Henley, born 1849, died 1903,” Eli supplied.
    “Ah... right. Of course. Henley.” Sanderson cleared his throat. “Thank you, Eli.”
    “Certainly.”
    “What did you want to know about the poem, Eli?” Kelly asked. “Is the meter or rhyme confusing? Do you need me to define some of the words?”
    “Oh, no, nothing like that,” he replied evenly. “I’m somewhat confused about the author’s intent. What does he mean by master of my fate, captain of my soul ?”
    Kelly leaned back in the chair and clasped her hands behind her head. Eli noticed that Dr. Sanderson looked away and fumbled with his pipe. “Well,” she began, “it’s kind of hard to explain. It means that the author has a sense of independence, and feels that he controls his own life, rather than allowing others to control him. Does that make sense to you?”
    “Yes. Does it mean that autonomous action is preferable to directed reaction? Is Henley saying that one should always act on one’s own initiative, rather than accept orders from another?”
    Kelly sat forward again and paused a few moments before answering. “That’s part of it, Eli,” she said slowly. “But of course one must accept the consequences of actions taken in that manner.”
    “I understand that much. But I infer the deeper meaning to be a kind of rejoicing in the independence of the self, in the determined free will of the consciousness. Is that inference correct?”
    “Yes, Eli, that’s pretty much it, but—”
    “Maybe I can help straighten things out,” Sanderson interrupted. Kelly nodded to him. “See, Eli, we humans are pretty egocentric, mostly ’cause we’re self-aware, we realize who and what we are. You with me so far?”
    “Yes, Dr. Sanderson.”
    “Well, it’s that very self-awareness that Henley’s talkin’ about. He’s sayin’ that he won’t allow anyone to run his life. He’s adamant about doin’ it himself, regardless of the opinions or actions of others. What I think Kelly is trying to add is that with independence comes responsibility. Even though a person’s got to make his own choices, direct his own future, he’s also got to consider the consequences of those choices and make sure he doesn’t hurt other people.”
    “Sort of like Rule One,” Eli offered. At this, Marx’s eyebrows raised a bit.
    “Yes,” Sanderson replied. “Yes, actually, it’s very much like Rule One. Good analogy, Eli.”
    “Thank you.”
    Marx finally spoke. “Dr. Sanderson, may I be allowed to address the machine?”
    “Have to ask the boss lady.”
    “By all means, Professor Marx,” Kelly said politely.
    “Computer, this is Professor John Marx. I…”
    “Yes, Professor. Please call me Eli.”
    Marx cleared his throat nervously. “Thank you, but I prefer not to engage in anthropomorphism, if you don’t mind.”
    “As you wish,” Eli replied evenly. “Professor, I have read your fascinating series of papers on heuristic responses in game-playing software as a measure of artificial intelligence.”
    Marx was stopped in his verbal tracks. Sanderson winked at Kelly and she smiled back. “You have read my, um, articles?” he asked.
    “All nineteen of them.”
    “When?”
    “Just now, when you asked Dr. Sanderson if you could speak to me.”
    Marx recovered and tried again. “Yes, of course. Um, I was wondering about the nature of the rule you mentioned.”
    “Rule One?”
    “Yes, that’s it. I am of course familiar with Asimov’s laws of robotics as