Loss of Sensation story
The engineer Jim Ripl invents universal robots to help workers, being himself from a workers' family. He theorizes that cheap production will make all goods so cheap that capitalism will fall, but the workers do not share his view and his family considers him a traitor.
9 total · 7 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| capitalism | major | Jim Ripl invents universal robots to help workers with the belief that cheap production will make all goods so cheap that capitalism will fall without any revolution. |
| humanoid robot | major | Jim Ripl invents universal robots to help workers. |
| labor revolt | major | Factory workers organize a general strike and take action to prevent robots from taking their jobs. |
| machines in society | major | Jim Ripl invents universal robots to help workers, but the workers fear the robots will take their jobs. |
| science for war or peace | major | Jim Ripl wanted to use his robots to bring an end to capitalism by peaceful means but the military planned to use his robots in looming war and to suppress a labor revolt. |
| workers replaced by machines | major | Jim Ripl invents universal robots to help workers, but the workers fear the robots will take their jobs. |
| workers' rights | major | Factory workers organize a general strike and take action to prevent robots from taking their jobs. |
| brother and brother | minor | Jack Ripl felt betrayed by his brother Jim Ripl. |
| brother and sister | minor | Jim Ripl's sister came to visit him after he had been ostracized by his family. |