Hearing Jarvis's words, Bai Luan raised an eyebrow in surprise, his gaze refocusing on the mechanical life he had personally created.
From its inception, its core mission was to answer the various questions Lars encountered on his research path.
To this end, Bai Luan had instilled in it a vast database, whose breadth of knowledge was enough to make many scholars blush.
According to his initial design philosophy, Jarvis was supposed to be an efficient, emotionless answering machine.
However, with the blessing of the Curious Foundry, it unexpectedly gained learning and evolutionary abilities far beyond its preset capabilities.
At the time, Bai Luan hadn't paid much attention, only thinking it was a bonus, making this auxiliary tool even more useful.
But now it seems... its learning speed is far faster than he had imagined.
Possessing learning ability—it seems this curio effect is much stronger than I imagined.
Since it was forged by his own hands, it was his responsibility to guide it through the confusions it encountered on its path to growth.
Bai Luan put away his joking expression, nodded gently and earnestly at Jarvis, and said:
"Of course. Whatever questions you have, feel free to ask."
"Thank you for your permission, Mr. Bai Luan."
Jarvis's single eye flickered with a steady blue light.
"I have two questions, both stemming from my observations at First Truth University."
It paused slightly, seemingly organizing the most precise language:
"The first question:
During my time at First Truth University, I heard a variety of views from different scholars, students, and even factions.
Each view strenuously emphasized its own correctness and universality, while more or less denying or disparaging other opposing views.
I used the logic library for in-depth analysis and found that many views, within their own presuppositions and logical frameworks, could justify themselves and appear 'reasonable'.
But if every view claims to be the sole or most correct, this itself contradicts the exclusivity of the concept of 'correctness', and also leads to the observed fierce conflicts.
So, my core question is: do opinions themselves have an objectively 'right' or 'wrong'?
If so, what standards should we use to judge them?"
Bai Luan did not answer immediately but thought seriously for a moment.
"Opinions themselves are actually difficult to categorize simply as 'right' or 'wrong' in a binary fashion."
He spoke slowly, his voice calm.
"The birth of every opinion is deeply rooted in the unique life experiences, knowledge structure, emotional experiences, and environment of its proposer.
When you listen to an opinion, sometimes you find that certain experiences or insights of the proposer resonate with some of your own experiences.
It is because of this resonance that you find their opinion reasonable, thus generating a sense of identification, which may be full identification or partial identification."
Jarvis's core processor hummed faintly, and it pressed on:
"If, as you say, opinions themselves have no absolute right or wrong, then why do I observe that intelligent life forms often argue endlessly over differences in opinion, even escalating into fierce conflicts? What is the logical motivation behind this strong defensive behavior?"
Facing Jarvis's deeper inquiry, Bai Luan smiled, a smile that held a hint of understanding of human complexity.
"Because once a person accepts or 'chooses' an opinion, they often naturally develop a 'stance'.
Once a stance is taken, it's like putting on a colored garment; the way one views the world is filtered accordingly.
At this point, the focus of the argument subtly shifts from 'the reasonableness of the opinion' to 'the correctness of the stance'.
Defending a stance, in many cases, is equivalent to defending one's self-worth, which is why you see this almost instinctive 'struggle between right and wrong'."
"So, since the root lies in stance, and the right or wrong of an opinion itself is difficult to determine, how should an independent individual make their own judgments and choices amidst the myriad of opinions?"
The light in Jarvis's single eye seemed to grow more focused.
"Many things, especially those involving value judgments, are often difficult to solve with a single answer like a mathematical formula."
Bai Luan's tone was calm.
"Two people who are fighting each other and treating each other as enemies may both firmly believe they are defending justice, simply because their stances are diametrically opposed.
Therefore, I believe that for an individual, the ultimate method of judgment might be:
Choose the view that resonates most with you, the one you like or identify with the most, and then steadfastly practice it.
No matter how noisy the outside world is, what your heart deems right is the basis for your actions, and what your heart rejects as wrong is what you need to avoid.
No matter how authoritative a person is, they must ultimately accept one fact: the world we live in is itself a complex system woven from countless different views.
It is extremely difficult to completely change the views and thoughts of others."
Bai Luan's words made Jarvis fall into thought again, and then it posed a new question:
"If... in my future journey, I encounter individuals whose core views or stances severely conflict with my own, according to logical deduction, conflict seems unavoidable. In such a situation, how should I handle it?"
Jarvis posed a very realistic, even somewhat dangerous question.
Hearing this, Bai Luan's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"It depends on the nature of the conflict."
His voice remained steady, but the content carried a clear sense of boundaries.
"If it's just a non-principled clash of ideas, then just laugh it off.
The world is vast, and it can accommodate different voices.
Even if you coexist with people whose views differ from yours in the same world, the universe will not feel crowded. Maintaining distance and living in peace is wisdom."
He paused, a rare, cold sharpness flashing in his eyes.
"But if it involves an uncompromising principled conflict, trampling on the most basic bottom line... I would, out of 'humanitarian' considerations, choose to physically destroy them."
Jarvis's core light fluctuated slightly, digesting Bai Luan's words.
"Then, my second question,"
It changed the topic.
"At First Truth University, I observed a common phenomenon: the more exclusive knowledge a person possesses, the more respected and noble their social status appears to be.
There are even some individuals who deliberately control and slow down the spread of knowledge to maintain the status advantage brought by this knowledge monopoly.
This sparked my curiosity: is knowledge directly equivalent to nobility?"
Bai Luan did not answer directly but instead asked back:
"The moment you were born, you knew a vast amount of knowledge. Do you feel noble?"
"Not at all."
Jarvis answered without the slightest hesitation.
"The knowledge was given to me by you; I have done nothing worthy of being called noble.
Moreover, the depth and breadth of the knowledge you possess far exceed mine, yet I have never heard you claim to be nobler than me because of it."
"Then do you think you are nobler than Lars, than Olivia?"
"Absolutely not."
This time, Jarvis's answer even carried a hint of urgency, similar to an emotional fluctuation.
"They... Mr. Lars and Miss Olivia, they possess creativity, empathy, intuition, and that... 'flash of inspiration' that I cannot fully analyze, which are unique.
Even if their knowledge reserves are temporarily inferior to mine, it absolutely does not mean they are inferior to me, or lower class than me."
"Are you angry if someone says they are inferior?"
"…"
Jarvis was silent for a moment, then said:
"I will humanely destroy anyone who says that."
Hearing this, Bai Luan showed a smile.
You learn quite fast.
"Then isn't the answer obvious?"
Bai Luan spread his hands, his smile becoming relaxed again.
"I don't deny that possessing profound knowledge is a remarkable thing, and people certainly have reason to feel confident and proud of it.
But if it breeds 'arrogance' and leads to viewing others as inferior, then that is entirely unnecessary."
He walked over to Jarvis, gently patted its cold metal shell, and continued:
"Knowing some knowledge earlier than others is not truly 'remarkable' from a macroscopic timescale.
Those who become arrogant prematurely because they possess a little knowledge, or even obstruct the spread of knowledge to maintain their advantage, deep down, perhaps clearly realize this point—that their advantage is actually very fragile, which is why they engage in such almost cowardly and short-sighted behavior.
So, back to your question: Is knowledge equivalent to nobility?
My answer is—knowledge itself cannot be simply and crudely equated directly with nobility.
When intelligent life possesses knowledge, 'nobility' is merely one possible outcome among many behavioral directions it might choose, not an inherent attribute."
"In your eyes, what constitutes nobility?"
Jarvis pressed on, its thirst for knowledge seemingly endless.
Bai Luan barely thought, and the answer came out, with an unquestionable firmness:
"If you ask me... it is those who are generous in sharing and dedicated to the free circulation of knowledge who can truly be called noble, like Professor Ratio. I respect him.
Technology is not meant to be superior, but to serve people; otherwise, why would we call it civilization?"
"This view seems to be consistent with the philosophy at the end of Mr. Lars's lecture..."
Hearing this, Jarvis hovered in place, the data stream in its single eye flickering at an unprecedented speed. After a good while, it slowly said:
"I like this view."
"Haha!"
Bai Luan laughed heartily, with a hint of pride in his laughter.
As expected of what I created!
"After all, you were created by me, so it's normal for your core values to be similar to mine.
However, you should know that even with different views, intelligent life can coexist harmoniously; it's not always necessary to fight to the death over right and wrong.
Go and communicate and clash with people who hold different views; that will give you a richer and deeper understanding of this world and of life itself.
I, too, have gradually become who I am today through countless dialogues with different souls."
He paused, his gaze seeming to penetrate the laboratory walls and look out at the boundless star sea, his tone carrying a hint of distant emotion:
"We live in a world where opinions are as numerous as the stars, and it is precisely because of these diverse, even contradictory, opinions that our world appears so... vibrant and full of unexpected possibilities."
Jarvis listened quietly, the data stream in its eye gradually calming down, replaced by a tranquil, steady glow.
It made a gesture towards Bai Luan, almost a bow, something it had never done before.
"Mr. Bai Luan, I want to thank you."
Its synthesized voice seemed to have an almost imperceptible warmth that was not usually there.
"Not just because you patiently answered my confusions, but also because—it was you who brought me into this wonderfully vibrant world. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to perceive all of this."
"You're welcome, Jarvis."
...