Missing Wit

22: Journey of Two Ships in the Dark

  Why was only the first hearing open? Why was no one allowed into the hall afterwards? What were they hiding? Did they think they could hide the verdict once the trial was closed to the public? Eric was preoccupied with these questions. He was too busy thinking about this while he waited for Paul to get water. Paul brought his water and sat back in the chair.

"It's time for the other hearings," Paul said. "If you're ready, let's continue."

"Before we begin," Eric said, interrupting Paul, "Why were the other hearings closed to the public?"

"It is quite difficult to answer that. I don't know the real reason either."

Eric wanted to say something against what Paul said, but chose not to say anything. "Let's move on to the other hearings, then, what do you say?"

"It will be fine."

Two chairs were placed in the middle of the courtroom. In these chairs, Kurt and Lina were sitting opposite each other. The board was in the back. Before the hearing began, the board read a report. This report said that computers could have a personality as a result of complex programming. Additionally, he was drawing attention to R.M.I.E's Personality Project. They pointed out that the purpose of this project is to do something similar to what New Lina Schütz said.

"All right," said the judge. "I understand from what you have said that such a thing is possible, is it true?"

"Right," said one of the board. "Theoretically, we think this is possible. Also, considering the possibilities of the R.M.I.E company, we believe that the new Lina Schütz can be Lina Schütz in practice."

"If you're ready, Mr. Schütz, start asking your questions," the judge said to Kurt.

Kurt took a sip of water, then cleared his throat. "Okay, Lina," (after clearing her throat again) "Can you describe feelings for us on your own?"he asked.

The board was intently focused on Lina's response. After thinking for a while, Lina said, "What people give to events is a complex behavior pattern peculiar to living things. It provides primitive impulses such as defense, finding a mate."

"Do you think that's it?"

"You asked me to make a definition for myself, so I did. If you have a more objective definition, I'm all ears."

Some of the men in the board began to laugh. Kurt chose to remain silent. "So be it," he continued afterward. "Do you think robots have or can have feelings? You know, emotions are part of personality."

"They can if you program it," Lina replied. The board was stunned at this answer.

"What did you want to say?" Kurt asked.

"No matter why it is done, circuit is circuit. If you liken a silicon circuit to circuits in the limbic system of the brain, robots can have feelings too."

"So you think you're reacting emotionally. Because if you ask me, you are simulating emotions."

"Your concepts are not equal," Lina replied. This caught everyone's attention. "To lie when you do; to simulate when I do it. How do you know if your emotional reactions are real?"

He was listening to Lina, with her hands folded in front of the judge. Lina's answers caught the judge's attention. These were the answers that satisfied the judge. However, the judge was aware that he was not an expert on the subject. For this reason, he put his own thoughts aside and asked the board to evaluate the answers given to this question.

The discussion continued for two minutes. Then came a positive response from the board for Lina. These were answers that could come from a human. The board also approved this. So, Lina shed the first blood in this war. The judge recorded this report of the board. Then, turning to Kurt, he said, "Your other question, Mr. Schütz," gave Kurt the floor.

After Kurt paused for a while, "Well, do you think you can tell me another feature that makes up the personality?" he asked.

"Experiences," Lina replied. "Small and big events that he is exposed to in daily life."

"Can you describe the experience, Lina?"

"People are constantly exposed to some input while they are awake. These experiences form experiences by passing through a rational critical filter as to whether they are true or not. Experience is used to form personality."

"So you define experiences by memory."

"Partially. It is to derive inferences from memory using a method," Kurt replied.

The judge intervened. He couldn't devote more time to these two. Also, this decision was not a one-day decision. Therefore, the judge decided to interrupt the hearing. If he had more than one hearing, his job would have been much easier. "That's enough for today. Let the board think again with today's answers. Mr. Kurt would also have time to think about other questions. Today's hearing is over for today," he said, and started walking to leave the room.

After the judge's exit, the board also left the hall. Kurt and Lina were sitting and looking at each other. These two people, who were going to go to the same house in the same taxi, were looking at each other as if one of them would shoot him with a gun when he turned his back.

"Don't give me an order at home!" said Lina sternly.

"What do you mean..."

"You know what it means. DO NOT GIVE ME AN ORDER!" said Lina. She had shouted so much at the last sentence that several people from outside the room wanted to come in and see what was inside. Angrily, Lina turned to her side, crossed her legs, and looked down.

"Alright. Get up and come with me," said Kurt.

Lina stood up. Because he had to. But the look of hatred on his face was indescribable. She looked at Kurt not as his brother, but as an enemy he had fought for years. "I told... you to not... command..."

"Shut up," Kurt said in a tone that was close to a shout. "You said at home."

One of the muscles in Lina's neck began to twitch. Kurt went over to Lina, began to examine it for problem. But Lina quickly backed off. This caused Kurt to fall. Just as she was falling, Lina caught Kurt and stood up again.

"Thanks," Kurt said coldly. "We will take a taxi."