Greek: Best Frenemies by Marsha Warner

Author:Marsha Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

Cappie did not find the teaching assistant in the office. Instead, Professor Izmaylov was hunched over the cheap, unstable desk in the cramped office, somewhat literally buried in paperwork, or at least papers. It was considerably more high tech than his office, with more anime action figures on the shelves. “Alex is sick. I’m filling in,” he said, motioning for Cappie to sit down on the only available seat, a rolling desk chair that squeaked when it moved. “Please try to look more disappointed about that. He is my son.”

“Sorry, I thought—”

“He’s tough, but he’s fair. And new at teaching,” the professor said. “We don’t all have a natural candor.” He held out his hand and Cappie put the proposal in it, which was in a plastic folder even if it wasn’t necessary and university professors were less likely to be dazzled than high-school teachers. Professor Izmaylov adjusted his glasses and read it quickly. It wasn’t particularly long, just an opening paragraph and an outline. “You haven’t said anything I don’t already know, but there isn’t a lot of chance of that happening. Especially about Aristotle.” He handed the proposal back to Cappie. “Aristotle’s views on animism aren’t enough for a paper. He rejected it. So even a reasoning robot isn’t human, even if only humans can reason. It’s not a solid syllogism. What is it with your generation and robots? Nobody’s been able to make one that can go up stairs. The allure of something that can be defeated by having a hiding place on the second floor escapes me. Computers are much more interesting.”

“Computers aren’t trying to go anywhere.”

The professor looked at the edge of the desk, which was shaky at best. There was a closed laptop on it. “Alex’s computer seems intent on toppling over as soon as I’m not looking.”

“But that involves gravity, which Aristotle didn’t understand.”

He grimaced. “No, he didn’t. You know quite a good deal about Greek philosophers, Mr. Cappie. Putting these ideas to paper seems to be your issue. Unfortunately, it’s a basic requirement for the class.”

“Aristotle thought true philosophy was in experience. That’s why he did so much field work in ecology.”

The professor looked up, interested. “A point often missed by armchair philosophers, though usually their chairs have better supports than this one. Why, are you building a robot?”

“It so happens, I am. And the rest of Kappa Tau.”

“I am quite mistaken about the nature of your fraternity. I thought it was known for other things, like destruction of police property.”

“The Omega Chis were there, too, but they bailed.”

“Then they fail to understand the meaning of the word fraternity, but they have a better understanding of politics and government—something Aristotle did not excel at, much as he might have tried.”

“He bailed on Athens after he was charged with impiety.”

“Yes, bring that up, why don’t you,” the professor said, with no particular malice, more amusement in his voice. “On the other hand I don’t see the Omega Chis building a robot and trying to get philosophy credits for it.

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