By Matt Cook, April 2017.
Could machines ever be human? Many, especially today, would say no. However, as a thought experiment, consider advanced AI encompassed within a synthetic body indistinguishable from that of a biological human. These are the androids or “replicants” that occupy the universe within the film Blade Runner (1982). The film raises several philosophical questions, such as whether machines could be human, and what it means to be human. In this article I will consider the first point, discuss the rights that these machines should have, and whether or not machine slavery, as seen in the film, is justified.
An argument can be made that the treatment of the replicants of blade runner is unethical, given that they are so human-like yet treated as slaves. In order to analyze this claim, we must discuss whether or not they can be considered human. While their appearance is that of a human, they live vastly shortened lives of merely four years so that they can remain lower class within society and die off quickly after a short life. The group of rogue replicants that return to Earth have come with the intent of finding their creator – the designer of the replicants – in an attempt to extend their lives. Through these actions we can see that the replicants are no longer mere machines, as they clearly have hopes, desires and beliefs. Household appliances do not have emotions or thoughts, and as such, humans feel justified in using them as they like. The replicants however, are much closer to humans, and thus using them as slaves is morally dubious.
Firstly, we must look to the film as to the replicants’ original purpose. Designed to mimic humans, the machines of blade runner are human in many aspects, however, their purpose is solely to serve humankind. They are used as slaves in order to help the colonization of other planets. Because of their creation for a sole purpose, their purpose precedes their existence. Several existentialist philosophers – such as Soren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre – have proposed that humans create our own purpose in life. First we exist, and then we manufacture our purpose. The machines of Blade Runner however, are reversed in their roles, being created with a purpose first. While their existence and their life’s purpose are chosen for them, the film deals with a group of rogue replicants that disobey humans and choose to find their own path.. In disobeying their human masters and rejecting their purpose, they are faced with finding their own meaning in life, which makes the replicants of the film for all intents and purposes, extremely human.
Throughout the film, the human protagonist Rick Deckard slowly begins to realize that the replicants show more humanity than at first glance. They exhibit many human traits such as appreciation for art, as seen through replicant Roy Batty’s quoting famous literature, their enjoyment of playing games such as chess, and their use of photographs as mementos. Their attempt to meet their creator and extend their lives shows that they are afraid of death, an extremely human characteristic. Through these actions the replicants demonstrate that they want to be more human and in many senses, they achieve their goal. Audiences sympathize with Roy Batty and his struggle to escape slavery and extend his life. The drive he exhibits to extend his life means he is no longer an object, a slave, a machine, but his own free agent. By breaking free of his social order, he creates meaning beyond that of his initial programming and in doing so, essentially becomes human.
The final moments of the film in the famous “tears in the rain” sequence is when we see Roy Batty’s humanity fully realized. In his final moments before his death, he expresses the one thing the replicants were said not to have, emotions. He expresses sadness for his lost friends and more so for his memories. In his final monologue he explains that all of his memories, the life he has lived, will be gone after his death. As he puts it “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain”. In saving Rick Deckard’s life, Roy redeems himself and shows more compassion and empathy than any other human likely would in that scenario. As such, it could be said that in the end, Roy is more human, even than humans.