Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick Humanity is define by empathy. It is our ability to transcend that makes humans highly adaptive and forever changing creatures. These characteristics provide humans with the drive to accomplish unachievable dreams, aspiration, and self worth. In Philip K. Dick “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.” Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter sent on a mission to retire, the Nexus-6 Androids that escaped from Mars. He lives in a post-nuclear apocalypses earth, where animals are extinct. His life is controlled by a mood organ that depicts how and what to feel on a daily basis. In the midst of Rick Deckard, retiring the Nexus-6 Androids, he realizes these androids are more human than machine. He learns true empathy, unselfishness and how every living or non-living has value. In the beginning of the novel Dick’s character Rick Deckard is viewed as a self-center bounty hunter, who is apathetic towards Androids. Ironically, Deckard portrays more android behavior than human behavior. Dick uses a Penfield mood organ to show the inhumane characteristic Rick Deckard possesses. It shows how he depends on a mood organ to choose how to feel. As Human begins feelings should be naturally felt not controlled. Since Rick Deckard feelings are controlled daily; this paralyzes his natural response and makes him emotionless toward androids. “A humanoid robot is like any other machine it can fluctuate between being a benefit and a hazard very rapidly. As a benefit it’s not our problem.” This shows Deckard being unconcern and emotionally detached to androids and any other machinery. He refers to both androids and electric animals alike. Both meant to serve the human race without conflict and bring happiness to their masters. Dick uses Benefit and Hazard as metaphors for Good and Evil. Both behavior humans possess and now the Nexus-6
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