Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep Analysis

Is humanity defined by its physical characteristics, its social tendencies—the ability to create language and record history, the ability to change and adapt itself and its environment— or something else entirely? In the post-apocalyptic world that Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, describes, androids are physically indistinguishable from humans. Dick, and his protagonists Decker and Isidore, delves into what distinguishes humanity from other species, and how that distinction is oftentimes ambiguous and wavering.
One of the underlying themes within Dick’s work is what it means to be a human, and how humans are differentiated from other species such as androids. In his article, Jeremy Adam Smith says “perhaps no quality
Decker and Bryant acknowledge “a small class of human beings could not pass the Voigt-Kampff” test. (Dick 36). How, then, can humanity be defined by their empathy? Are these people—psychopaths and schizophrenics— not considered human? Or is empathy not a comprehensive way to classify humans? Isidore’s use of the empathy box, and its importance in Mercerism, establishes that empathy is not important as an emotional reaction, but as a method to unite humans. Isidore states that an empathy box is “the way you stop being alone” (Dick 24). The purpose of the empathy box is to remind humans of their common identity, which is partly rooted in their superiority to androids. Ironically, the presence of empathy does not make humans kinder or more sensitive, but rather allows them to unite and assert their superiority over androids. In the study, How Anthropomorphism Affects Empathy Towards Robots, the researchers conclude that people are more likely to empathize with robots that look more human than with mechanical-looking robots. This reaffirms the view that empathy acts as a uniting force amongst humans; Deckard refers to androids as “a solitary predator” (Dick 11). However, with the advanced technology depicted in the book, humans venture further from humanity constantly. They utilize the Penfield Mood Organ, which allows them to program and change their emotional states—they can dial for “a businesslike professional attitude” or “self-accusatory depression” (Dick 2). Though these emotions seem very human, being able to dial them, choosing them when they decide to, is characteristically not human, and something associated with robots. In Smith’s article, he talks about the development of new robots that will be able to understand human emotions and “respond with an emotionally appropriate behavior,” similar to how Rick schedules his daily moods with the mood organ. The