Personal Reaction Essays

The super-computer with human feelings named HAL-9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey shows the potential benefits and detriments of "human" machines. HAL dominates the ship's crew of astronauts who are either in hibernation or while away the time getting a suntan because HAL is able to "mimic" most of the activities of the human brain with much faster speed and foolproof reliability. When HAL is interviewed by the BBC, he asserts, "We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error" (Kubrick 2001). HAL basically runs the ship, putting himself to the "fullest use possible," all, he maintains "that any conscious entity can ever hope to do" (Kubrick 2001).

The crew members treat HAL like a fellow human. HAL admits he has a "stimulating relationship" with Dr. Poole and Dr. Bowman, and in a discussion that involves a possible malfunction with HAL, the astronauts refer to the super-computer as "him" (Kubrick 2001). HAL beats Frank at chess and he is able to critique the artwork rendered by Dave through his visual-recognition capabilities. In all ways, HAL appears to be human though he is a machine.

Despite HAL's remarkable human-like abilities, Dave argues that his ability to have "real feelings" is something no one can "truthfully answer" (Kubrick 2001). Despite Dave's doubt, HAL seems to express genuine feelings. When his malfunction causes the crew to consider shutting him down, HAL becomes vengeful an

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