SOTOPIA: Artificial Pseudo-God

Moskevich seems to be using his actions to prove that he is a "good citizen" without identity, but Steven thinks it's not that simple.

"Who did you mean by 'they'?" Steven asked.

"Researcher, the person in charge of training me and observing me." Moskevich replied with a gentle expression.

"Do you know the agency they belong to, and your own actual situation?"

"It should be the Social Survey and Experiment Center under the jurisdiction of Sotopia—to be precise, a special laboratory. However, I don't know the exact location of the old laboratory. I suggest you check it yourself. As for myself, those researchers are I haven't hidden anything from me. It's just that a few fanatical social scientists want to use one-way information indoctrination in the small space of the laboratory to raise "insighters" who are independent of society. Oh, the "insighters project" ’ are still Irina’s words.”

Having said that, Steven noticed a strange look on Moskevich's face. "You'd better make a statement about this 'experiment'."

"Oh? Do you have enough time? I'm afraid this will be a very long story. You can even imagine the pile of footnotes and references in the experiment report."

"Although I don't lack time, I still hope that you can focus on the key points and make a long story short. Anyway, you will have many opportunities to retell the story in the future." Steven spread his hands, without making any concessions.

Moskevich, who was rejected, showed no displeasure or embarrassment.He just smiled calmly, smoothed the overly long hair that was hanging in front of his eyes behind his ears, and found a step for himself very naturally. "In short, they want to 'make gods', to prove whether pure 'rational will' and laws of thought can be born in independent natural persons."

"How can such incredible research be done in modern society?" Steven couldn't help frowning.

"The reason is very simple, Mr. Krebs." In this regard, Moskevich just smiled and raised his index finger, made a "quiet" gesture, and responded confidently: "You know, some people in modern society try to use science By means of proving the existence of God, the scientists of Sotopia just put the concept of 'false god' on human beings."

Steven, who admits he has no religious beliefs, thought about it, and only felt that such a picture was too unbelievable and could not withstand scrutiny: "They want to imprison a human being like you in an independent space outside society, creating a world that transcends positions. 'Rational machines'?"

Moskevich nodded, affirming Steven's guess: "To be precise, we will surpass machines."

"'We'? You're not the only one suffering." Steven frowned.

"Yes, but I don't know my kind. We experimental subjects who have nothing to do with the outside world have no motherland, no nation, no religion, only theoretical 'absolute neutrality'. Learning and thinking will be carried out independently by us, Researchers only assess our potential and interests, and endlessly provide literature in different fields, using this gentle method to develop the brain to the extreme." When talking about these things, Moskevich hardly showed any expression, just like deep It was not himself who was caught in it, but a stranger who had nothing to do with him.

"It doesn't make sense."

"Sotopia never blindly believes in common sense. Instead, they just want to 'create common sense'. Now that I think about it, those low-level social scientists don't know whether they are hangovers or drinking too much coffee. An experimental plan with ideal results." He replied with a sneer.

Hearing Moskevich's cold and humorous comment, Steven became very interested in this person himself: "But you seem to have a personality." After thinking for a while, he added: "For example, when you meet someone When talking, either accurately sweep the interest of others, or accurately provoke hostility to yourself."

Moskevich doesn't seem to care about this: "We inhumans in cages either collapsed in chaos, or found the key to think in chaos, and I found the key to make myself happy. way of survival. The above is the truth about the 'Inspector Project' and even Sotopia—of course, only part of it."

"Creative Commons and Usage Guidance Association", commonly known as Sotopia.According to Maynard, it is a transnational organization of "mad scientists in the name of romanticism, coercing politicians and businessmen who have reached a consensus to challenge existing authority and create an ideal society", and an "enemy of the United States" enjoying extraterritorial power .Kaye has a more dark and humorous expression: they regard modern society as an incurable experimental field, but regard the ancient history and the future in danger as precious treasures.

In the eyes of uninformed outsiders, it seems to be just a senate-like transnational society with a history of more than [-] years, but its tentacles have unknowingly extended to various fields, and even Maynard, the department that deals with intelligence, is in charge. People can only see the tip of the iceberg; and Steven, who has been in charge of basic work for a long time, is working resignedly within the scope of knowledge "disclosed by superiors".

Steven was a little surprised by the unabashed frankness of Moskevich, a related party. "In other words, you have always been very clear about your position as an 'experiment'?"

"I grew up in a laboratory. Apart from the [-]-square-meter glass room, the activity space is less than [-] square meters of patio. Because of the requirements of this experiment, I have been reading books almost since I can remember, and the amount of knowledge I have absorbed I am afraid that I am above many scholars—as a price, my understanding of my own situation is also unbearable. Who knows how I pretend to be very cooperative, this is probably a talent. As for the content of the experiment, They have always made it very clear, I am afraid there is no need to deceive at all."

"By the way, who is the Irina you mentioned just now?"

"One of the researchers, but I haven't seen her for a long time. If I insist on adding an identity... I'm afraid it's a woman who is closest to my 'mother'."

"That is to say, you have been in a special state of being imprisoned for a long time, at least your personal freedom has been restricted. Knowledge is a weapon, and the researchers don't intend to enslave you in thought. The hidden danger of losing control is too great."

"I'm not a domesticated lamb, and the researchers at Sotopia don't want to see a question-and-answer machine that has no brains and only conditioned reflexes like a dog. From this point of view, I am simply their best work. As for whether it is considered a social In the sense of 'person', I'm afraid it might not be possible."

"So you're full of hatred for Sotopia?"

"No, please don't misinterpret my meaning, and don't always think of other people's situation so badly." Moskevich's eyes turned cold, and he directly denied Steven's wrong judgment. "Frankly speaking, I don't think it matters. After all, when I was in the laboratory, I had no worries about food and clothing, lived a comfortable life, and was even extremely happy materially. The researchers never abused me, but they also never abused me. The actions I have seen in the text are not rigidly bound by reason, and I have no way of gaining personal experience related to the "superfluous things" such as morality and emotion. Although some people have instilled in me the concept of "freedom", I still I'm not radical enough to want revenge on them, but I just want to end the state of being kept in captivity as a rare species. In essence, I am still a lawful and good pacifist, but I am not willing to stay in the same place all the time."

Despite his weakness, Moskevich's voice was steady and calm.Steven carefully observed the other party's expression, and asked at the right time: "So, what is your motive for fleeing?"

"Escape?" Moskevich laughed twice, and Steven couldn't help frowning. "I didn't run away voluntarily. It was purely an accident that I appeared in front of you in such a distressed manner."