Optimus Prime's motto is:

 

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings".

 

Asimov's three (or four if you count the "zeroth" law) seem to point to this part:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics

 

"Daneel also comes into conflict with a robot known as R. Lodovic Trema, whose positronic brain was infected by a rogue AI — specifically, a simulation of the long-dead Voltaire — consequently freeing Trema from the Three Laws. Trema comes to believe that humanity should be free to choose its own future. Furthermore, a small group of robots claims that the Zeroth Law of Robotics itself implies a higher Minus One Law of Robotics:

“ A robot may not harm sentience or, through inaction, allow sentience to come to harm. â€

 

Megs, on the other hand, has this motto:

 

"Peace through tyranny"

 

This also seems to be similar to this part:

 

"...while others are based on the second clause, claiming that robots should openly become a dictatorial government to protect humans from all potential conflict or disaster."

 

The foundation robots also seem to be like the "final five" in battletstar glactica, as well, eh readers?

Alternatively, the creators of the 8AM children's cartoon designed to sell toys picked mottos that said "I'm the good guy" and "I'm the bad guy" respectively.

 

 

You chose. ;)

 

 

 

 

And; "One vision, one purpose; Peach Through Power" Totally owns them both, by the way.

Where Did Optimus and Megs get their Mottos From?

 

answer: Bob Budainsky

 

Now, the question is, where did HE get it from? :schin

If nothing else, I still find it to be an interesting parallel.

Asthaloth: You are aware that the toys came out well before the cartoon, right? ;)

Also, the writers, be they writing for a kids cartoon, or even for a cereal packet information blurb, were inspired by other things in their life. Take ANY kids cartoon, and you will always find references to other, more cerebral stimuli.

 

For example, the title of many kids cartoon episodes, the names of the characters, the places, etc ALL are inspired by other works.

 

For example, Optimus Prime, Primus, Ultra Magnus, etc are all, in part, derived from ancient Latin or Greek, or the Renaissance use of those words.

 

Transformers may not itself be "high-brow", but the writers at least had access to such influences.

Yeah... I don't really see any connection between the Prime quote and Asimov's, other than use of the word "sentient." They're talking about very different things.

 

Megatron's quote is more based on the justification of countless bad guys throughout the ages.

:pfx

The way I see it, every form of phrasing morality tends to base itself in similar forms. Positive morality tends to lean towards the "be good and nice" form. Optimus, as leader of the Autobots, no doubt is "good". Asimov's Laws are in fact moral guidelines for robotic behaviour (albeit hardwared into their character: they cannot get around them.) Ofcourse there are similarities. However, does that mean that there is a direct link between them? No, I highly doubt so. As for Megatron, his moral system tends towards the | Nietzschian", "twisted moral" notion; a moral system that in itself is understandable, yet so complete opposite of what we consider 'normal', that we actually fear it. Humans are, after all, social creatures; we may think we are highly individual, but our moral system usually tends to social aspects: someone who is highly individualistic would abuse that social system, without disregard for the consequences, because, in fact, for him there are none: By having this different moral system, he has already withdrawn from society, so the consequences, being forced out of society, do not matter for him. Worse, being such a powerful character, he forces himself within our society again and again: excluding him from society simply does not help. This is why we fear characters like him so much (when properly written, ofcourse). If a being like that would exist, we would really be helpless against him. ( And what's worse, because we have, in fact, highly individualistic natures as well, we can imagine being such a character, only we know we cannot separate ourselves. Some of us would like to, which is why they admire characters like Megatron so much. We want to be him but we know we cannot, because we simply need society)

Asthaloth: You are aware that the toys came out well before the cartoon, right? ;)

 

YEs.

I was, however, under the impression that they didn't gain the names "Optimus Prime" and "Megatron" until the cartoon and toyline.

 

;)