Programming can be defined as creating rules for a
system; in other words, given an input, what output should be produced. Such
functions should be evaluated rigorously: if f(a) should produce b but instead
produces c, there is an error which must be corrected.
In our society, the adjectives ‘empathetic’ and robotic’
are often seen as antonyms. Some would argue that empathy, the driving force
between altruism, is one of the most defining elements of humanity. Mercerism
places a great emphasis upon empathy, seen through the empathy box. John
Isidore explains to Rachael Rosen that “an empathy box is the most personal
possession you have! It’s an extension of your body; it’s the way you touch
other humans, it’s the way you stop being alone.” However, the empathy box
shows that empathy box shows that empathy can and according to Mercerism, must,
be induced.
The Voigt-Kampff test works upon the principle that
humans must respond to certain hypotheticals one way, and other stimuli the
other way. This blurs the line between robotic and empathetic as, just as with
a program, a certain output is expected
given a certain input. In the case that that output is wrong (there is no
emotional response), there is something wrong with that person (it is suspected
they are an android) and that problem must be corrected (retired).
When Rick gives the V-K test to Rachael Rosen, his
results are initially inconclusive –only after an additional question can he
distinguish her. His difficulty in identifying her underscores the haziness
forming between human and android. Humans are expected to act a certain way,
and with technology advancing, algorithms are developed to replicate that
behavior.
When Rick is arrested by the harness bull, he assumes
that he has been captured by the androids. However, upon arriving at the police
station, the situation becomes complicated: the officers are completely
convinced that they are not robots. Rather, Garland suggests that Rick is an “escaped
andy…posing as [an] out-of-state bounty hunter,” or that his memories have been
simulated. As readers, we have no evidence to refute this claim. Indeed, we
cannot even place full faith in the V-K test. At this point, the only character
who we can decisively say was an android is Polokov due to the bone marrow
test.
Today, many computer scientists hypothesize that we are approaching
what is known as a ‘technological singularity’. Technology, and in particular
artificial intelligence, or AI, is nearing the point where it will exceed human
intelligence. Already, we have software that writes itself and models which can
predict some human behavior. As technology accelerates, how can we separate
ourselves from artificial intelligence which seems to be assimilating within us (or perhaps exceeding us)?
One thing I found fascinating about this reading is the increasingly obvious polarization between Rick Deckard and John Isidore, particularly regarding their approaches to human emotion. As Liam mentioned, on page 66, Isidore tells Rachael Rosen that “an empathy box…it’s an extension of your body; it’s the way you stop being alone.” Although Isidore relies on a machine in order to become a part of a more ‘human’ experience, he does so with the mentality of wanting that more authentic experience he can’t live himself. The empathy box allows him to connect with other people and listen to their thoughts, as well as share the same physical conditions (like being cut by the rock when it hits Mercer). Even away from the empathy box, Isidore makes an effort to connect to others through his decision to introduce himself to Rachael Rosen and desire to cook dinner for the two of them, as well as in his conversation with his boss, Horace. Isidore expresses a genuine interest in other people that doesn’t relate to status at all. Rick Deckard, on the other hand, shows no real interest in wanting to connect with other human beings. In fact, when he calls Iran on page 94, he says he wishes he “had gotten rid of her two years ago,” and says talking with her is like speaking “into a vacuum.” He pays no regard to his wife’s desire to feel real emotion, and carries out most of his actions with the sole purpose of being able to get enough money to buy an animal.
ReplyDeleteRick Deckard’s traits serve to emphasize the blurring of the line between human and android. At the end of the chapter, we’re left with a confusing situation: Deckard is strongly convinced of his humanity and not that of Garland and Luba Luft, and vice versa. As Liam said, there’s no way at the moment for us to determine decisively who’s human and who isn’t, and we’ve been forced to begin doubting the Voigt-Kampff Test. However, this blurriness also seems to highlight the growing differences between the Deckard and Isidore, and perhaps between the normals and the specials.
I’d like to pose another question: how far apart can humans drift before speciation occurs? Despite the mental drawbacks Isidore faces as a chickenhead, could there be increasingly different methods of thinking about and experiencing emotions growing between the normals and the specials?
To me, it seems that humanity is going in two separate directions, the way of Rick Deckard and the "normal" people, and the way of John Isidore, representative of "specials". The normal people seem to be losing the very empathy that they use to differentiate themselves from robots. Deckard doesn't seem to show any real strong care for what happens to his wife, just a small concern about her depression that she has planned. Additionally, he reveals while speaking to Phil Resch that it doesn't even bother him to call the androids that he kills by personal pronouns, and therefore making them seem more human.
ReplyDeleteJohn Isidore, on the other hand, seems to be very strongly empathetic. He obsesses over the "empathy box" and Mercerism's belief in the unity of humanity. He also seems genuinely concerned about the cat as he is taking it to the repair shop, as he tried to fix it en route. Finally, he seems very interested in helping out Pris, another human, despite the fact that he had never seen her before and she seemed strange.
In Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the normal humans seem to be becoming less and less empathetic, to the point that they may well start to fail the empathy test and become indistinguishable from androids, while the specials, whom humanity is trying to avoid/get rid of, seem to be the only humans left who are really empathetic.
Jimmy, I find it interesting that you said Isidore "obsesses"over the empathy box and Mercerism. Is this obsession with unity and mutual experience good or bad? Many of Isidore's comments are somewhat one dimensional. Does Isidore appear innocent yet ignorant?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I find it interesting how the specials are called chickenheads and antheads. In this society, animals are incredibly treasured. Yet, those called chickenheads and antheads are seen as inferior. Why do you think Dick chooses these names? One possibility is that he's indirectly saying that specials should be more treasured than they are.