DADOES Intro+Body+Conclustion

Question: In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, what role does empathy play when comparing a human and an android?

Philip Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, takes place in a post apocalyptic world in 2021. Throughout Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a reoccurring questioning of whether a human is an android and vise versa. By using the Voigt-Kampff test, Rick can determine whether a human does not have enough empathy, making it an android, or confirming that someone is human by checking their empathy levels.  Rick begins to question his own humanity and empathy while androids begin to question their artificiality. Within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, there is a constant question of what it means to be human, what is actual and fake, and what blurs the lines between real and artificial. If supposedly the only thing that differentiates humans and androids are their empathy levels, then what level of empathy should an android have until it is considered equal to a human? Dick creates doubt throughout the novel regarding what levels of empathy are needed to be considered a human; however when in contact with certain androids, Rick discovers that some do have emotional empathy, further questioning what level of empathy should androids be allowed to have before they cross over into a human.

Empathy within Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is what separates a human from an android. Empathy is conveyed in a number of different ways and is a major distinction when considering someone’s humanity. In the beginning of the novel, Rick and Iran are discussing their plans for the day, however Iran’s desire to partake in the self-accusatory depression creates conflict between her and Rick. ‘My schedule for today lists a six hour self-accusatory depression,’ Iran said. ‘What? Why did you schedule that?’ It defeated the whole purpose of the mood organ...’my first reaction consisted of being grateful we could afford a Penfield mood organ. But then I realized how unhealthy it was, sensing the absence of life, not just in this building but everywhere, and not reacting-do you see?" (5). Rick and Iran both use mood organs, a machine that stimulates human feelings, allowing a human to feel whatever they please, whenever. However, Irans wanting to do the self-accusatory depression shows her desire to feel something imperfect and human, not feelings generated by a machine. Most members of the post World-War Terminus world view the mood organ as a normal and reasonable way to feel and live. Ironically, by humans using the mood organ to generate feelings and in turn make themselves more efficient, they allow themselves to become more paralleled to the characteristics and personalities of an android. As humans, they should have the ability to react to a certain situation naturally, but with the absence of spontaneity and genuine feeling they are creating a world where humans and androids both have an absence of life. Isidore, while not considered a human, but rather a “chicken head” shows human traits that aren’t similar to most of Dick’s characters. “D-Doesn't y-y-your insurance cover this’... ‘I don’t think Isidore can tell the difference’ Milt said mildly. ‘To him they’re all alive’... ‘Yes,’ Isidore admitted” (77) Isidore thinks that a real cat was an electric one, and Isidore’s inability to tell the difference between the electric cat and the real one further displays his human traits, something that “real-humans” don’t possess. Isidores stuttering further conveys his emotional sadness when referring to the dead cat. If compassion and empathy are what differentiate androids and humans, then Isidore is more of a human then another normal character. Isidore’s ability to feel compassion for something whether it is electric or real makes Isidore more human, while no one else in society posses these traits.

Ricks outlook on androids completely changes towards the end of the book. Rick, being a bounty hunter and retiring androids for a living, clearly had no moral issue with “retiring” androids. However, towards the end of the novel Rick’s pre-conceived views on androids changes dramatically. “What a job to have to do, Rick thought. I'm a scourge, like famine or plague. Where I go the ancient curse follows. As Mercer said, I am required to do wrong. Everything I've done has been wrong from the start" (225-226) Rick develops empathy for androids when he realizes that they have human similarities. Prior to the end of the novel Rick has no concept of what genuine empathy is. However, after Rick retires the Andys, he comes to the realization that he has done wrong, and in turn he develops a more full sense of empathy. Similarly, Rachael is an android with human like feelings. Although Rachael is technically an android she shows human like traits. "'It's so awful. So needless."(225) After Rachael kills Rick’s goat, she illustrates her further sense of humanity through her remorse. Ironically, Rick does not realize why Rachael believes the killing of the goat was needless, and goes on to believe that Rachael solely thought that due to her android thinking and reasoning. The crossover between Rachael as an android and Rick as a human’s empathy levels further blurs the lines between what constitutes being a human versus an android.

Dick creates crossroads between the inanimate and animate. There is irony between androids and humans levels of empathy and how while an android can have more empathy then a human, it is still not equated to a human. The lines become blurred as to what constitutes a human and what constitutes an android and where the distinction is made. As the novel progresses, Rick in turn progresses and becomes more human and less robotic. The irony in Rick developing more feelings towards androids after spending more time with them shows that whether you are grouped as an android or a human does not make you one, but the empathy and human characteristics are what distinguishes you in society.