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Does a terminator have a form of self-preservation or prohibition against suicide?


This weekend I was watching Terminator 2 (editor cut). In the end, after T-1000 is destroyed, Arnold asks Sarah and John to destroy him by melting and says "I cannot destroy myself".


So, what does this mean? The terminator cannot destroy himself unless it is absolutely necessary in order to succeed in his mission (like protect John?)?


In that case, what was the Terminator in part 1 going to do after the success of his mission (i.e. destroy Sarah)? Just live a long happy life and wait for Skynet arise?


Update: I understand that this is not the exact Third law of Asimov, since the terminators definitely don't follow the First or Second law. Let's call it the law of self-preservation. Does terminator have a form of self-preservation to some point and the prohibition of suicide?



Answer




To Arnold maybe, but certainly not to all Terminators proven by the second part of the law: "... as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws". Now the first two laws are about protecting humans, which given the name would suggest they were not programmed to do so.


There is an instance in the latest movie where one of the machines terminated itself. This was when they were testing the magic signal. While it wasn't a "terminator" it came from the same place and therefore had the same programming. The difference with Arine is that he was reprogrammed by the Humans and therefore could have had the three laws apply.


So I would say terminators are not bound by the third law in any way.


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