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(First there were Three, but a Fourth was added)

Asimov's Laws of Robotics

 
  • Zeroth Law: A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
  • First Law: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate the Zeroth Law of Robotics.
  • Second Law: A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the Zeroth or First Law.
  • Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the Zeroth, First, or Second Law.

Isaac Asimov, "Robots and Empire." London: Grafton Books (1985). See this paper for an extended analysis of the laws of robotics.