Mercerism is the main religion present in the novel and it is very similar to many modern day religions but more so Christianity. Dick uses this religion as a way to show the other side to of what Buster Friendly is spewing across the media. I believe Mercerism is not meant to devote people to sheepish contemptment but to help them find their humanity that has been lost. Empathy is the universal measurement, compared between humans and an android's lack thereof. Through reassurance and communal compassion, the followers of Mercer are kept in touch with their overly passionate human natures. The Nexus-6, superior versions of androids, are constantly being released, gaining ground in crossing the barrier that separates. This is even exemplified by the fact that some humans, do not feel empathy or have a seriously underdeveloped feeling of empathy. Luba Luft criticises Resch openly for his android-like coldness, actively believing he is one. After being given the book of Edvard Munch prints by Deckard, Luft says of Resch “It wouldn’t have occurred to him; as he said, never in a million years.” (Dick 133) The androids are ever so close to crossing the line that makes them indistinguishable from humans. Emotion-like-actions are now prevalent and that is only one small step away from feeling the real thing.
On page 142 of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Rick , while conversing back and forth with Phil Resch, “I’m capable of feeling empathy for at least specific, certain androids (Dick 142).” This claim by Deckard illustrates a logistical flaw in Michael Heilemann’s belief that “. . .feelings are something you get through Mercer. . . (Heilemann 7).” Rick is not feeling emotions here due to Mercer and the effects of the empathy box, this is his real and honest human emotions. The empathy that is spread through Mercerism cannot be experienced by Androids, after reading the page 30 quote, “An android, no matter how gifted as to pure intellectual capacity, could make no sense out of the fusion which took place routinely among the followers of Mercerism. . . (Dick 30).” Empathy is something that is shown by the followers of Mercer but he does not give them empathy because for the majority amount of people empathy, no matter how much or little is present.
Works Cited
1996. Print.
Heilemann, Michael. “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Blade Runner”. 2001. Blackboard. Web. 13 Mar 2014.
You make a good point by pointing out that the empathy box and the mood organ don’t create emotions, but they do, however, create emotional states that are considered just as valid as organically arising emotions. I found it a glaring double standard by the humans in the book, simply believing they can dial away their sadness and replace it with anything they wish, but the androids are unforgivably artificial. The use of human augmentation is obviously pointing out this logical flaw. The humans still have the potential to feel naturally, but besides Iran’s subtle dislike of the mood organ, there is no protest to the idea of artificially manipulating one’s mental states, so long as the manipulator is human in the first place. An android is no more genuine than a human who has moods and behaviors programmed into their lives. At such a point, where is this drastic line the humans are so biased towards believing in? Empathy? The androids are becoming so adept at learning empathic response that the Voight Kampff machine is almost obsolete. So what happens when the Nexus 7 comes out? Do the humans begin to base their measurement of humanity upon cell division and life span?
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