Editing Isaac Asimov (section)

=== Social issues ===
Asimov believed that "''science'' fiction ... serve[s] the good of humanity".{{r|asimov196708}} He considered himself a feminist even before [[women's liberation]] became a widespread movement; he argued that the issue of [[women's rights]] was closely connected to that of population control.<ref name="YIA"/> Furthermore, he believed that [[homosexuality]] must be considered a "moral right" on population grounds, as must all consenting adult sexual activity that does not lead to reproduction.<ref name="YIA"/> He issued many appeals for [[population control]], reflecting a perspective articulated by people from [[Thomas Malthus]] through [[Paul R. Ehrlich]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Moyer's World of Ideas, Part I |url=https://www.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/print/pdfs/woi%20asimov1.pdf |work=transcript page 6, 10/17/1988 show |access-date=December 31, 2012 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104050458/http://www.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/print/pdfs/woi%20asimov1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a 1988 interview by [[Bill Moyers]], Asimov proposed [[computer-aided learning]], where people would use computers to find information on subjects in which they were interested.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Moyer's World of Ideas, Part II |url=https://www.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/print/pdfs/woi%20asimov2.pdf |work=transcript page 3, 10/17/1988 show |access-date=December 31, 2012 |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605005723/https://www-tc.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/print/pdfs/woi%20asimov2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He thought this would make learning more interesting, since people would have the freedom to choose what to learn, and would help spread knowledge around the world. Also, the [[One to one computing|one-to-one]] model would let students learn at their own pace.<ref>{{cite web |title=Isaac Asimov on His Hopes for the Future (Part Two) |url=http://billmoyers.com/content/isaac-asimov-part-two/ |work=October 21, 1988 PBS broadcast Moyers and Company |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006064139/http://billmoyers.com/content/isaac-asimov-part-two/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Asimov thought that people would live in space by 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/isaac-asimov-future-predictions-from-1983?rebelltitem=3|title=Space utilization|date=December 27, 2018|website=Big Think|language=en|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230184215/https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/isaac-asimov-future-predictions-from-1983?rebelltitem=3|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1983 Asimov wrote:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/12/27/35-years-ago-isaac-asimov-was-asked-by-the-star-to-predict-the-world-of-2019-here-is-what-he-wrote.html|title=35 years ago, Isaac Asimov was asked by the Star to predict the world of 2019. Here is what he wrote|date=December 27, 2018|newspaper=The Toronto Star|access-date=March 14, 2021|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226100507/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/12/27/35-years-ago-isaac-asimov-was-asked-by-the-star-to-predict-the-world-of-2019-here-is-what-he-wrote.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Computerization will undoubtedly continue onward inevitably...

This means that a vast change in the nature of education must take place, and entire populations must be made "computer-literate" and must be taught to deal with a "high-tech" world.}}

He continues on education: {{blockquote|Education, which must be revolutionized in the new world, will be revolutionized by the very agency that requires the revolution — the computer.

Schools will undoubtedly still exist, but a good schoolteacher can do no better than to inspire curiosity which an interested student can then satisfy at home at the console of his computer outlet.

There will be an opportunity finally for every youngster, and indeed, every person, to learn what he or she wants to learn, in his or her own time, at his or her own speed, in his or her own way.

Education will become fun because it will bubble up from within and not be forced in from without.}}