Axiomatic by Greg Egan

book unclassified publish

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goodreads, wiki), amazon

openarchive, gutenberg

authors:

• Greg Egan
  

pdf links:

• https://philosophy.williams.edu/files/Egan-Learning-to-Be-Me.pdf
  

• https://www.treca.org/papersCollection/uploaded-files/filedownload.ashx/axiomatic_greg_egan.pdf
  

Short Description

"Axiomatic" by Greg Egan is a collection of hard science fiction short stories that explore thought-provoking themes through advanced technology, such as identity, consciousness, and reality, blending rigorous science with philosophical inquiry.

Goodreads Description

Axiomatic is a collection of Greg Egan's short stories that appeared in various science fiction magazines (mostly Interzone and Asimov's) between 1989 and 1992. Contents:The Infinite Assassin (1991)The Hundred Light-Year Diary (1992)Eugene (1990)The Caress (1990)Blood Sisters (1991)Axiomatic (1990)The Safe-Deposit Box (1990)Seeing (1995)A Kidnapping (1995)Learning to Be Me (1990)The Moat (1991)The Walk (1992)The Cutie (1989)Into Darkness (1992)Appropriate Love (1991)The Moral Virologist (1990)Closer (1992)Unstable Orbits in the Space of Lies (1992)

AI Summary

"Axiomatic" is a collection of science fiction short stories by Australian author Greg Egan, first published in 1995. The stories explore complex themes related to technology, identity, and consciousness, often with philosophical undertones. Below is a summary of the collection, highlighting key ideas and themes of some of the stories:

• "The Infinite Assassin"
  

  • Explores the concept of parallel universes.
    

  • The protagonist is an "assassin" tasked with maintaining stability across multiple realities.
    

  • Themes: The nature of selfhood and the consequences of branching realities.
    

• "The Hundred-Light-Year Diary"
  

  • People receive diaries with knowledge of future events.
    

  • Examines the impact of foreknowledge on free will and personal responsibility.
    

  • Themes: Predestination, the burden of knowing the future.
    

• "Eugene"
  

  • A biotechnology company provides parents the ability to alter their children's intelligence.
    

  • Raises ethical questions about genetic modification and parental influence.
    

  • Themes: Nature vs. nurture, societal pressure, and human perfection.
    

• "The Safe-Deposit Box"
  

  • The main character wakes up in different bodies every day.
    

  • A metaphor for the fluidity of identity and self-perception.
    

  • Themes: Identity, continuity, and adaptation to constant change.
    

• "Seeing"
  

  • A new technology allows people to experience another’s sensory perceptions.
    

  • Explores empathy and the boundaries of shared experiences.
    

  • Themes: Empathy, privacy, and the limits of understanding others.
    

• "Axiomatic"
  

  • People can buy "axioms," altering parts of their beliefs or personalities.
    

  • Explores the concept of personal integrity and the nature of belief.
    

  • Themes: Identity, authenticity, and the construction of reality.
    

• "The Moral Virologist"
  

  • A religious extremist designs a virus to target certain populations.
    

  • Examines zealotry and the extremes of moral righteousness.
    

  • Themes: Ethics, morality, and the misuse of power.
    

• "Closer"
  

  • A couple experiments with a device that provides shared consciousness.
    

  • Explores intimacy, identity, and the boundaries of individuality.
    

  • Themes: Love, identity, and the quest for deeper connection.
    

• "Unstable Orbits in the Space of Lies"
  

  • A world where people's beliefs physically separate them into different zones.
    

  • A metaphorical exploration of dogma and division in society.
    

  • Themes: Belief, division, and societal fragmentation.
    

Key Ideas:

• The intersection of technology and human experience.
  

• Exploration of identity and consciousness.
  

• Ethical and philosophical questions surrounding the use of advanced technology.
  

• The nature of reality, belief, and perception.
  

• The tension between individual desires and societal norms.
  

Greg Egan's "Axiomatic" presents a collection of thought-provoking and intellectually challenging stories that often confront the reader with moral and existential questions, encouraging reflection on the implications of a rapidly advancing technological landscape.

Bertrand Russell Summary

"Axiomatic" by Greg Egan presents itself as a collection of thought-provoking narratives that delve into the profound questions concerning the nature of reality, identity, and morality. Egan, a distinguished author in the realm of speculative fiction, presents a work that navigates the realms of cognitive science, philosophy, and theoretical physics, engaging in themes familiar to those concerned with the fundamental questions of existence.

In examining "Axiomatic," one discerns an exploration of the axioms which underpin human understanding and experience. Egan embarks on a speculative expedition into the very structure of human perception and the assumptions that underlie our conception of the self and the cosmos. Each story within the collection functions as an intellectual experiment, probing the boundaries of what it means to be human.

Egan's stories are reminiscent of the logical analyses that characterize philosophical inquiry, seeking clarity amidst the uncertainties that envelop human cognition. He employs the medium of fiction to question the sanctity of the self, offering scenarios where technological advancement forces a reevaluation of personal identity against an altered perception of continuity and consciousness.

An overarching theme in "Axiomatic" is the examination of choice and free will, subjects that find resonance in philosophical traditions concerned with determinism and autonomy. Egan's narratives invite readers to question the degree to which our decisions are preordained by the neural and digital architectures that define our existence.

Egan's exploration of ethics resonates with the moral philosophy that has been a subject of discourse since antiquity. The dilemmas presented in these stories often hinge upon a reconfiguration of ethical boundaries, challenging the reader to reconsider conventional moral intuitions in the face of speculative technological advancement.

In summation, "Axiomatic" serves as a vibrant meditation on existence, much in the way that a philosophical treatise might invite contemplation of enduring truths. Egan's work, through its speculative lens, provides a framework to grapple with the questions that continue to perplex human thought: What is the essence of self? What defines the real? And how do we navigate the ethical quandaries of a rapidly advancing future? In doing so, he aligns with the philosophical quest to understand, in the broadest and most profound sense, the nature of the universe and our place within it.

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