Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

The Question of What It Means to Be Human

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a seminal work of science fiction by Philip K. Dick. Published in 1968, the novel explores profound existential and ethical questions that remain relevant today. Set in a desolate, post-apocalyptic San Francisco in 1992 (a future date when the book was written), the world has been ravaged by a nuclear war known as World War Terminus. The novel's intense focus on the blurring line between human and machine has cemented its status as an enduring classic, and it famously served as the inspiration for the film Blade Runner.

The Hunt for the Replicants

The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter whose job is to "retire" (kill) a group of highly advanced, nearly indistinguishable androids, or "replicants," who have escaped their servitude colonies on Mars and fled to Earth. These androids—specifically the sophisticated Nexus-6 models—are virtually identical to humans. The only reliable way to tell them apart is by administering the Voigt-Kampff Test, a procedure designed to measure the subject's empathy—a trait believed to be exclusively human.

Empathy as the Defining Trait

The central philosophical question of the novel revolves around the nature of humanity itself. Dick proposes that the capacity for empathy is the defining human quality, a trait that the androids inherently lack. The existence of the androids, however, forces Deckard and the reader to constantly question their own humanity. As Deckard pursues his targets, he finds himself increasingly drawn into morally gray areas, particularly after encountering Rachael Rosen, a beautiful and complex android. His certainty about his mission and his own human identity begins to erode, raising the terrifying possibility that the androids may possess more humanity than their creators. The ubiquitous practice of owning "electric animals" in a world where real animals are rare further highlights the artificiality and emotional numbness of post-war society.