Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

From Logic to Empathy: Beyond Asimov’s Rules to the Sun’s Affection

Xiaoying GengQufu Normal University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The ethical governance of artificial intelligence demands both rule-based constraints and affective engagement with context. This paper analyzes Isaac Asimov’s robot stories and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun to reframe the evolution of AI ethics beyond a linear “from rules to affect” narrative, emphasizing instead their ongoing tension and interdependence. Through the lenses of posthumanism and care ethics, this study shows that Asimov’s Three Laws, and their paradoxes, reveal not just the need for rules, but their inadequacy in complex realities, hinting at the need for a humanized ethics. Conversely, Klara’s affective narrative does not simply replace rules; questions around the authenticity of her emotions and her ethical agency expose the programmed logic of affect and the limits of human-centric frameworks. Ultimately, these literary cases demonstrate that AI ethics hinges on a dialectical dialogue between rules and affect, offering insights for building realistic ethical structures that combine regulatory baselines with humane sensitivity.

Keywords: AI Ethics; Rule-Based Ethics; Ethics of Care; Posthumanism; Klara and the Sun
Published: December 31, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.HT30994
Volume: CHR Vol.100
pp. 245-252
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