In the twelfth chapter of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the idea that andy’s (or androids) cannot take care of animals is presented. The discussion between Phil Resch and Rick Deckard introduces this idea. Resch starts by asking him ” Did you ever hear of an andy having a pet of any sort?” (Dick 120), and Deckard answers by saying that has heard of it in “two cases” (Dick 121) and that it is “rare” for them to care for the animals they have, and keep them alive. The touching point of this discussion between Resch and Deckard is the mentioning of an “atmosphere of love” (Dick 121), and the statement that “animals require an environment of warmth to flourish.” (Dick 121). In the real world, some people also cannot take care of animals, leading to abuse and neglect. These issues lead to the absence of an “atmosphere of love” (Dick 121), and in my opinion, no creature should feel this absence. I “sprinkle” my cat, Ninja, with warmth and love, giving her a comfortable and loving environment, as should any pet owner.
Discussion Question #1: What are some ways to show animals, specifically pets, love and an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance? If you do not have a pet, what are some ways that you see others treat their animals, good or bad?
Discussion Question #2: How do you feel about andy’s treating their animals with a lack of love? Should they be aloud to have pets, why or why not? How does this relate to the lack of empathy andy’s have?
I think this was a great part of the chapters to highlight on! It really helps to show how “human” the androids are and helps destroy Ricks “them Vs Me” mentality.
Discussion Question 1: I have a dog at home and recently I was taking care of a friend of mines pet when she went home for the weekend. Hes just a fish but I try and keep him entertained, give him food and talk to him. It made me excited because I plan on getting a fish soon and i felt like this was a big test on if I could own a fish. I think this is a variable though, because I think it can be easier to show other animals affection especially when you can show them love through touch.
Discussion Question 2: I don’t think that love = empathy but its a really great question. Obviously it doesn’t make me feel good knowing that someone isn’t showing their pet love and can sometimes make you feel very uncomfortable or even concerned. But I don’t think that androids DON’T show love to their animals/pets, I think it might just be a different form of love shown. Like the 5 love languages. Some may like personal touch while others may really like getting gifts from others.
People show love to their animals in many different ways. I grew up with dogs my whole life and show them love in petting them, giving them treats, and asking them about their days. I now own a cat of my own and do similar things with her. I occasionally give her wet food to celebrate holidays. All of my pets have been read to when I am too busy to play so that they still feel involved when I am busy with work or school. My dog, Sasha, enjoys it because she gets nervous easily. My cat, Margo, thinks it’s an excuse to attack my laptop.
Androids would have an interesting time learning to love a pet. It does take a certain amount of empathy and responsibility to care for a pet. Keeping an animal alive is methodic, regular, and easy to put on schedule. Androids could easily care for farm animals as they need a strict schedule for milking and grazing. They require less amounts of love. Our typical household pet, like a dog or other pack animal, needs to feel that social bond. Love is very important in creating a bond with your animal because you are their entire world and they learn to trust only you and those who you let in. My cat is a great example. Margo was a rescue and the shelter had a hard time placing her because she refused to open up to new people. I hadn’t actually been looking to buy a cat the day I bought her but it felt like destiny. The shelter was very happy to see that she had picked a human and I was willing to take her. She’s been my baby since then and I couldn’t imagine her with anyone else. Androids would have a hard time understanding why this cat could not be placed with anyone and why it would be harder for her to bond. Androids may lack the empathy to understand why small, household pets need more love. I think androids should allowed to own animals but those we normally find at a farm.
To touch on discussion question number 2, I think I understand the concern with Andy’s taking care of living organisms. They do lack empathy, as the book’s conflict shows us, so it is understandably a concern that androids would struggle to keep a something living alive. Now, I don’t think they couldn’t, I’m sure they could be programmed to be great caretakers, but then they wouldn’t be doing it out of care or because of empathy, but because they were programmed to take care of whatever it is. In the book’s world, I do not believe that any generation of androids prior to the nexus 6’s should even be considered to have to take care of anything that is dependent on care for its survival. The nexus 6’s are even a stretch because I am not entirely sure of how far their capability stretches without concluding the book. I think that androids could take care of something with a lack of love, but its not a healthy development or relationship for whatever is being taken care of. People take care of pitbulls at the same time that they neglect them, and the animals resort to more primal instincts.
I personally smother my cats (Ragnar and Floki) in heaps of love, because I see them as dependent creatures who would cease to live if I didn’t take care of them, which is something I certainly don’t want. Sometimes I even go as far as to call them my “sons” or my “baby boys”, because they’re truly part of our family. Humans, being naturally tribal creatures, have a strong urge to form packs, and domesticated animals are an important part of that. Perhaps it is something in our evolution that has created this drive, and because androids were fabricated in a lab, there is less of a natural instinct to bond together, even with creatures of different species. Maybe their establishment upon activation as a sub-human slave race has made them cold, and unable to learn empathy, as no empathy is shown to them by humans. As a way to foster more empathy from Andys, perhaps the solution is to work them up from electrical animals to living animals. Teach them to care for a creature that’s like them first, for recognition’s sake, then give them a living creature to nurture and love in the same way they loved the electric one.
Discussion Question #1: What are some ways to show animals, specifically pets, love and an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance?
As a recent new pet owner, I show my kitten, Turbo, a lot of love and affection. I have had Turbo for 13 weeks and he is a bundle of joy who loves to cuddle, purr, and attack my legs. When I walk into my bedroom, the first thing I do is give him a big hug. I accepted him into my home when I picked him up from his previous owners. I show Turbo love by feeding him, taking care of him, cuddling him, and giving him kisses.
Discussion Question #2: How do you feel about Andy’s treating their animals with a lack of love? Should they be allowed to have pets, why or why not? How does this relate to the lack of empathy Andy’s have?
I believe the androids show their love and take care of their animals in their own special way. For example, some cats dislike affection, but their owners can still take care of their needs. Yes, androids should have pets because the androids look so real maybe they will start to develop sympathy towards the animals’ over time. This does not relate to the lack of empathy Andy’s have toward the animals because the animals did not ban the androids from the planet.