The factors that make us human are finite. We are organic creatures with complex cognitive abilities and we are able to feel empathy. From the time we evolved from apes until now humans have been on an upward climb towards success. People disagree about what is considered a success. The technological advancements humans make every year are a testament to our cognitive ability and desire to be better. In modern medicine we have made huge advancements such as pace makers and prosthetic limbs. These are inorganic pieces being implanted in the body, making that part inorganic. These biological differences are what make humans believe Androids and cyborgs to be lesser beings. Androids are slaves to humanity because they were created to serve. The fight for Android civil rights is very similar to that of the American civil rights movement.
Scientists are constantly trying to improve our body and fix the things that are a hindrance to daily life. In modern U.S society that may mean helping the paraplegics be able to walk again with prosthetics. In his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Philip K. Dick explores the concept of humanoid robots and their ability to feel empathy. He envisions a world with more than just physical enhancements, a world in which people are entirely inorganic. With every new prosthetic it becomes more realistic and highly functioning. Dr. Stevens Dikas states, “We now have computerized legs, knees, ankles and upper extremities… that can provide constant feedback so that the artificial limb can adjust to the activity being performed,” indicating that prosthetics are becoming a full extension of the body (Puzic 2017). Human muscles naturally respond to internal and external stimuli. Upon creating prosthetics that can respond to stimuli humanity is one step closer to creating a real android. The Rosen Corporation creates the Nexus-6 Androids as slaves for the humans on mars. However, the corporation may have made the Android race a little too close to human. They are nearly indistinguishable and have dreams and aspirations of their own. Androids were created to improve our living standards, but their strong will to survive prevents them from accepting the life of a slave. They simply wish to live integrated with human society. They want to have jobs and contribute to society, some even wish to be married. They want to be human.
Another point in Dick’s novel is that humans are not the perfect view of an empathetic organism. Bryant, Rick’s superior officer, states, “a small class of human beings could not pass the Voigt-Kampff scale… you’d assess them as humanoid robots. You’d be wrong, but by then they’d be dead,” indicating that there are faults within the identifying test they rely on (Dick 38). Humans that have trouble perceiving empathy and those from differing cultures will not be able to pass the test. For example, humans in the United States may not feel empathy for a cow because it was raised to be eaten. Humans in India however, hold the cow as a sacred symbol and would never dream of eating it. In the current Indian society, United States residents would fail India’s Voigt-Kampff test. Rachel Rosen is a Nexus-6 Android that nearly passed the test, her grandfather tried to pass her off as human. Eldon states, “your empathy delineation test failed in response to my niece… I can explain the she scored as an android might,” illustrating the low reliability the test may have (Dick 52). Due to the fact that she was apparently isolated from society, and could only learn of human life through videos and text, her empathy levels were off. At least that is what Eldon Rosen is telling everyone. If most Nexus-6 Androids like Rachel Rosen can nearly pass the test and a certain percentage of humans fail, what then distinguishes humans from an Android?
There is no significant difference between the Androids in Dick’s novel and the humans of modern society. Androids express emotions similar to that of humans. They may not be identical, but they are very similar. Androids feel empathy for each other as well as humans. Humans feel empathy for all forms of life except for those they view as lesser beings. In reality, empathy is a thing of the past. According to research by the University of Michigan, college students are “40 percent less empathetic than those who graduated two or three decades ago,” suggesting that humans are losing their ability to feel empathy (Grasgreen 2010 ). Social media and daily news broadcasts desensitize humanity from the horrors that occur. News outlets are constantly bombarding us with horrifying events such as bombings in Syria and slavery in West Africa. Unfortunately tragedies such as these happen often around the globe. There are children in developing nations that are starving and dying of disease. In Mauritania slaves are born into their situation and have no way of getting out. Social media provides an outlet for concern and a forum for discussion about said tragedies. People may not even realize that slavery is still prevalent in developing countries. Humans are becoming less and less empathetic while the Androids are becoming more and more empathetic. Furthermore, the article discusses the ability to teach empathy. Humans and Androids cannot become more empathetic without motivation just as how a student cannot learn. Sara H. Konrath states, “they have to have the desire to change,” emphasizing that the person must be willing to learn empathy (Grasgreen 2010).
Empathy is an ability that can be taught. Infants watch their parents interact with the world and copy what they see. Adults still imitate things they believe to be beneficial. In workforces that demand aggression or strong leadership, empathy is not a useful skill. Doctors and lawyers cannot be too empathetic. If doctors are too emotionally attached to their patients, then it will be harder for them to deal with patient deaths. If a patient is not healing well, the doctor may not be able to do the job properly. A prosecutor in the court of law cannot be empathetic towards the defendant. They must remain rigid and truthful as they attempt to prove the defendant’s guilt. This is a possible factor in why modern society is not prominently empathetic; empathy is just not needed. On the other hand, psychologists are still working on ways to teach empathy. According to research published in the Trends of Cognitive Science, reading can teach people empathy. Fictional literature has the ability to create social situations that allow the readers to imagine themselves as the character. Keith Oatley, a novelist and psychologist states, “People… show greater empathy when they read fiction,” suggesting that if people, or even androids, read fiction books they can learn to be more empathetic (Surugue 2016). In Philip K. Dick’s novel, empathy is the only thing that can distinguish a human from an android. Without that single quality there is no difference.
Fiction books provide the reader with an opportunity to better understand the characters and life situations. Reading Philip K. Dick’s novel allows the reader to question himself or herself. Readers may realize that they are not as empathetic as some characters within the text, such as John Isidore. John is a special, a societal outcast, who empathizes with animals, insects, humans, and even androids. The readers can empathize with him during the video-call scene. Isidore is nervous to call the owners of the real cat and inform them of its death. Isidore states, “I’m hairy, ugly … and also I feel sick from the radiation; I think I’m going to die”, illustrating John’s low self-esteem and reluctance to partake in social responsibilities. (Dick 78). Feeling relatable to the characters within a story can allow the readers to not only enjoy the story, but change a few habits also. John’s successful video call may cause some to take on their own social reservations in the real world. After reading Do Android’s Dream of Electric Sheep readers may attempt to change the way they react towards the world; they may become more empathetic.
Androids are killed after escaping slavery similarly to the way African American’s were slaughtered. On Mars, the Nexus-6 androids served the humans the advertisement on the T.V states, “Either as body servants or tireless field hands, the custom-tailored humanoid robot—designed specifically for your unique needs,” indicating that the Rosen Corporation have been creating replicas of the pre-civil war slaves (Dick 17). These slaves are then forced to do whatever their masters require them to do, no matter how horrid. When they escape, their former masters consider them disobedient and non-productive. Humans see the androids as lesser beings due to the fact that they were created to be used as tools. Regardless, Androids and humans alike should have free will to do as they please. Slavery in the United States was classified as chattel slavery. The chattel classification is the legal institution of buying and selling African Americans as commodity. People were treated as property just as the Androids in Dick’s novel. They were born and raised to be slaves and Androids were created and programmed to serve. Gradually people began to see slavery as a horrifying institution and began to fight for the freedom of slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 was an attempt to end slavery by President Abraham Lincoln; however the 13th amendment to the constitution in December of 1865 formally outlawed chattel slavery. In Dick’s novel the enslavement of Androids could be outlawed with a revolution. Androids can do more than serve humans. They are incredibly smart and talented beings, not just tools for human pleasure. Slaves in the United States were used to cook, clean, and work in a field. Some slaves were even raped by their masters. They were never given a chance to do more with their life or receive an education.
Escaped slaves were considered fugitives and were hunted down by bounty hunters and regular civilians. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 provided these African Americans with no protection in the court of law. Escaped slaves were beaten, burned at the stake, and branded. An android in Dick’s novel, Luba Loft, was an amazing opera singer. She was involved in the production of The Magic Flute and was rehearsing for a lead role. She was a productive member of society by contributing to the culture on earth. She had created a life for herself. The bounty hunter, Rick Deckard, despite his true wishes was still required to “retire” her only because she was an escaped slave. He had felt as though she was harmless. Many African Americans were hunted down in their new lives and killed for escaping. If Luba Loft had a life and a self-proposed purpose, then why was she unable to live freely in society?
After the abolishment of slavery, some African Americans were given opportunities to better themselves if they had talent. Jazz singers such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald were changing jazz. Ira Gershwin called Ella the first lady of song when he had heard her sing his compositions. Billie Holiday was referenced as the most influential jazz singer due to her distinctive articulation and incomparable style. Both women made amazing contributions to the music world. If Androids were able to live freely they could greatly improve human lives and culture. Given the chance, Androids could make breakthroughs in not only music, but also medicine and technology. Androids could think of innovative ways to solve human health issues by replacing body parts. Modern medicine already places inorganic materials inside of patients to restore bodily functions. Androids could perform steady handed transplants with inorganic material.
Androids, Cyborgs, and Humans are all interrelated. In a society where the only goal is to travel up towards success there is no difference between humans and other creatures. Humans are one hundred percent organic. Cyborgs are partially organic. Androids are one hundred percent inorganic. All three creates have the desire to live and evolve. According to Kurzweil, “We will transcend all of the limitations of our biology… That is what it means to be human—to extend who we are,” indicating that cyborgs and Androids could be considered human (Vance 2010). Cyborgs are literal extensions of who we are biologically. They are pushing the limitations and evolving into something else entirely. Skin color plays a vital role in biological limitations in American society. People of color struggle for equality even to this day. They are not given the same opportunities as Caucasian people, or are passed up for jobs because of their skin color. Androids and cyborgs alike are facing or will face the same struggle. Their desire to extend their limitations is met with barriers. It will be especially hard for Androids who are not designed as a Caucasian male or female to succeed in life after slavery. Androids are modeled after humans physically and are programmed to be human; therefore, androids and cyborgs should be treated as equally as humans.
Equality is an ongoing struggle in modern society around the globe. Those who are holding on to past behaviors treat people of color as lesser than white people. What makes us human will never have a clear distinction. Cyborgs and Androids are human by definition; the desire to become something better is what makes us who we are. We feel empathy for each other and wish to be treated equally. We all want peace and prosperity to come to the society in which we live. There is not a difference between us, although fear is what causes the physical differences to cause violence. Humans are beginning to see all races as equal; the end of racism is dire. There cannot be equality if people of color and inorganic organisms are treated differently. If humans, cyborgs, and androids could look past the slight physical differences there could be a utopian society in which all live happily. When every human, cyborg, and android of every race imaginable are treated the same, humanity will then have reached the peace it so desires.
Works Cited
Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. New York: Random House, 1996. Print.
Grasgreen, Allie. “Empathizing 101.” Inside Higher Ed. Capital University, 24 Nov. 2010. Web. 09 Oct. 2017.
Puzic, Sonja. “How Modern Prosthetics Are Changing Canadians’ Lives.” CTVNews. CTV News, 28 Sept. 2017. Web. 09 Oct. 2017.
Surugue, Léa. “Reading Books and Watching Films Makes You Kinder in Real Life.” International Business Times UK. N.p., 19 July 2016. Web. 09 Oct. 2017.
Vance, Ashlee. “Merely Human? That’s So Yesterday.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 June 2010. Web. 09 Oct. 2017.