Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the difference between human emotion and artificial emotion represented in Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Because of the rich emotions that humans experience, we live human lives. On the other hand, artificial emotions are predictable. It is possible that artifacts such as androids or robots can someday have emotion as well as intelligence? If artifacts emerge at a human level or with intelligence that transcends human intellectual abilities, and if they can have emotions, what will happen? Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, published in 1969, is a work that probes these questions. This novel focuses on the problem of emotion, because having ‘emotion’ or not is presented as the difference between ‘real’ humans and androids. The androids look like humans and they also apparently have intelligence and emotions quite similar to those of humans. At the center of this novel’s narrative are the differences between “real” humans and androids produced to serve, and the problem of how to deal with androids that do not contribute to human well-being. To identify androids, this novel presents the empathy test which shows android’s lack of natural human emotion. On the basis of this novel’s narrative, I focus not only on the positive outlook on the future that technological development and artificial intelligence brings, but also the dark apocalyptic situation humanity may possibly face.