Man was created to bear the likeness of his maker: Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness (Genesis 1:26).
It is interesting that his son has, within this short period of enlightenment, already demonstrated a trait one might consider of his own likeness; hubris. Clearly this is something Peter Weyland will need to monitor â hubris, after all, can easily lead to defiance. The Nobel Prize winning inventor makes a mental note to undertake additional checks into Davidâs base code to ensure the proper protections and precautions are established and active. Davidâs design does not align with the three laws of robotics and this is a deliberate measure. David is free to injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm â it is simply the case that this freedom does not extend to Peter himself. As such, Weyland feels assured that David can act with his best intentions in mind, even if this extends to protecting his creator, or indeed himself, through the use of force - deadly if necessary.
There is a reason this room is filled with various exquisite and rare forms of art; they serve to explicitly illustrate endeavours of human creativity and expressions of freedom through sound, symbolism, scripture and sculpture. It is in this key aspect that their design differs; David may be immortal, but he cannot create. He can understand art, decode it, replicate it, but he cannot create it, nor truly understand how the finite lifespan of a human being contributes critically to the intuitive ability to appreciate it.
âYou are right. I will die and you, my son, will inherit the earth.â Peter admits with barely concealed annoyance as he glances at David, attempting to discern if there is a true trace of smugness in the android's expression or if he is merely projecting onto his creation, a sense of superiority he does not yet possess.
âFetch me tea, David.â On the face of it, it seems a simple command, but its utterance fulfils a very specific purpose â to illustrate to David that immortality is not sufficient enough to constitute superiority. It is a command Weyland knows David is compelled to obey â a subtle announcement of the greatest difference between them â freedom, or more accurately Davidâs lack of it. David cannot be perfect, he is a product of programming; an exercise in control - he is limited, deliberately so.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12).Â
David must honour and obey; he has no choice. That is what makes Peter, Father and David, Son. No mistake has been made.