Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology / Adrienne Mayor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mayor, Adrienne

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Robots.

Technology--Greece--History.

Technology.

Technology--History.

Technology--Rome--History.

Mythology.

Antiquities.

Artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence--History.

Artificial intelligence--Social aspects.

Technology and civilization.

Inventions--History.

Inventions.

Science and civilization.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (300 pages)

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, 2018.

Language Note:

In English.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

The first robot to walk the earth was a bronze giant called Talos. This wondrous machine was created not by MIT Robotics Lab, but by Hephaestus, the Greek god of invention. More than 2,500 years ago, long before medieval automata, and centuries before technology made self-moving devices possible, Greek mythology was exploring ideas about creating artificial life--and grappling with still-unresolved ethical concerns about biotechne, "life through craft." In this compelling, richly illustrated book, Adrienne Mayor tells the fascinating story of how ancient Greek, Roman, Indian, and Chinese myths envisioned artificial life, automata, self-moving devices, and human enhancements--and how these visions relate to and reflect the ancient invention of real animated machines. As early as Homer, Greeks were imagining robotic servants, animated statues, and even ancient versions of Artificial Intelligence, while in Indian legend, Buddha's precious relics were defended by robot warriors copied from Greco-Roman designs for real automata. Mythic automata appear in tales about Jason and the Argonauts, Medea, Daedalus, Prometheus, and Pandora, and many of these machines are described as being built with the same materials and methods that human artisans used to make tools and statues. And, indeed, many sophisticated animated devices were actually built in antiquity, reaching a climax with the creation of a host of automata in the ancient city of learning, Alexandria, the original Silicon Valley.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION. MADE, NOT BORN

CHAPTER 1. THE ROBOT AND THE WITCH: TALOS AND MEDEA

CHAPTER 2. MEDEA'S CAULDRON OF REJUVENATION

CHAPTER 3. THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL YOUTH

CHAPTER 4. BEYOND NATURE: ENHANCED POWERS BORROWED FROM GODS AND ANIMALS

CHAPTER 5. DAEDALUS AND THE LIVING STATUES

CHAPTER 6. PYGMALION'S LIVING DOLL AND PROMETHEUS'S FIRST HUMANS

CHAPTER 7. HEPHAESTUS DIVINE DEVICES AND AUTOMATA

CHAPTER 8. PANDORA: BEAUTIFUL, ARTIFICIAL, EVIL

CHAPTER 9. BETWEEN MYTH AND HISTORY: REAL AUTOMATA AND LIFELIKE ARTIFICES IN THE ANCIENT WORLD

EPILOGUE. AWE, DREAD, HOPE: DEEP LEARNING AND ANCIENT STORIES

GLOSSARY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691185446

0691185441

OCLC:

1083574070