In
the essay by Michael Heilemann on the analysis of the book “Do
Androids dream of Electric Sheep and Blade runner” he claims that
“Mercer is also for mankind a way to separate themselves from the
androids, seeing as their
lack of empathy disables them from using
the empathy box.” (Heilemann, 8). I personally disagree with this
statement I believe that the use of the empathy box actually ties the
relationship between the humans and androids even closer. This use of
the box shows that the “humans” don't in fact show
characteristics of a real humans which I think empathy is included in
the package. The use of this box shows that their emotions are not
genuine at all and are just programmed feelings, how is this
different at all from an android? Surely the programing of a certain
action or “feeling” could be applied to the android system, which
would make distinguishing between the two impossible.
Mercerism
doesn't accomplish what it is intended to do, which is prove that the
people on earth are human, it actually destroys the reliability of
this claim because they are being controlled by a system. In reality
they are machines themselves, which is an
apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having parts, each
with a definite function and together performing a particular task.
The Mercer empathy box constitutes and supports the “Humans” on
earth in many ways are androids themselves.
Works
Cited
Dick,
Philip K. Do Androids
Dream of Electric Sheep?
New York: Ballantine,
1996.
Print.
Heilemann,
Michael. “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Blade Runner”.
2001. Blackboard. Web. 13 Mar 2014.
I agree with you that in reality the empathy box reveals the slight lack of empathy humans now have, bringing them closer to the androids, since the only difference between the two seems to be empathy. However, I think you have misunderstood Heilemann's statement – I think what he is really trying to say is that the empathy box is an attempt on the part of the humans to separate themselves from the androids. They have realized that they do not have much more empathy than the androids do, and it is a somewhat desperate way to remind themselves that they do still have more, and are therefore still different from the androids. So while it is informing the reader that humans now need a machine to experience real empathy, to them it is a reassurance that they are still capable of experiencing it. Finally, it is in fact the one thing that separates humans from androids – humans still have the capacity for empathy, and can therefore use the empathy box, but androids do not have this capacity, do not understand what empathy is, and cannot use the box.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to point out that I think later in your post you may have been confusing the empathy box with the Penfield mood alteration system – I believe these are two separate machines.