Rationality vs Compassion

While Miriam believes that removing sentimentality is the only way humanity can overcome its impending extinction, Logan realizes that without compassion, people are overcome by selfishness.

Miriam's entire upgrade plan is driven by her belief that emotions are what is in the way of progress. When discussing the future with other scientists, she says, “We seek comfort rather than a clear-eyed stare into reality. We consume and preen and convince ourselves that if we keep our heads in the sand, the monsters will just go away. Simply put, we refuse to help ourselves as a species. We refuse to do what must be done” (105). Later, when explaining why she chose to upgrade Logan and Kara, Miriam reaffirms this belief. Her message says, “The genes that steered us toward sentiment… were advantageous at the dawn of humankind, when we had no understanding of the universe...