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What Does it Mean to be Human?
Introduction
It has been centuries and decades that probed the philosophers, anthropologists, and psychologists to unearth the reality and assist in answering the basic question of this universal existence, that is what does it means to be human. However, considering the struggle and inquiry of every field for this important question has brought a different answer. Taking into account those multiple answers, the approach of philosophy towards this question is certainly different from the rest (Bourke, 2011). Considering the spectrum of being human, it is based upon the values we hold, the choices we make, those relationships we build as well as the relationship that we build with the nature around us, including the essence of our emotions and actions. All these elements are the basic entities for making a physical and biological system into a human.
To be human, it certainly means to be able to self-evaluation, considering one's actions and emotions. This evaluation can give an insight into a person to walk on a path of righteous and humanity (Bourke, 2011). This essence of humanity can be exemplified from many of the real-life examples, however, this paper will take the portrayal of Dekerd featured in the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, as well as from K in the movies “Blade Runner 2049", to examine the evolution of humanity.
Based on the theme and question of this discussion, the current paper will attempt to provide an answer to the inquiry of what it means to be human with the help of two characters, their roles, actions and portrayal of humanity. Moreover, this paper will also provide a philosophical basis for the emerging themes of two featured characteristics. Hence, the main objective of this paper is to give an account of what is being human in reality.
Discussion
Upon all the definitions of humanity and humans, the actual explanation of this concept is very difficult to choose. However, the most important elements that make it easy to be human significantly includes the regulation of one’s emotions. Also, our choices and will makes us what we are (Bourke, 2011). The will to decide and to act is the greatest motive that serves in the way of being human. Based upon the philosophical views, to be humans also means to create ones life and to affect one’s self upon the existence of world along with giving more importance to the happiness of others (Bourke, 2011). In this way of defining the existence of humanity, empathy is another most important aspect that provides the essence to be more human. The attempts of answering this question have been tried by many of the philosophers and philanthropist, but here the focus on the explanation of Dekerd featured in the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (Dick, 1996), as well as from K in the movies "Blade Runner 2049”.
Overview to Deckard and K
Deckard is a fictional character of the famous science fictions novel and movie, named as "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". However, K is the fictional characters in the famous movie "Blade Runner 2049", a sequel of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". The character of Deckard is a portrayal of human against the replicants in the movie named as androids. However, K is featured as the portrayal of replicant who fights against the humans in the start, but later on, he tends to choose his way which depicts him more human than the real humans (Dick, 1996).
The actions of these featured characters are different. However, the objectives are more or less similar. As Deckard fights against the survival of replicants, he tends to kill and destroy the replicants, that are androids. However, the objectives behind these actions are to fight for the survival of other peoples and also to make others save from the destruction that these replicants can bring (Dick, 1996).
On the other hand, K is a replicant who initially take up a mission against the human but later he rebel against the replicants and fight for the happiness of a daughter, to make her meet her father. The important objective of K in this way is to provide somebody happiness and to make them safe from the pain of loss (Villenueve, 2017). Furthermore, k is not a human, but his actions and self-evaluation of the emotion makes him more than a human.
What makes us human?
In the way of searching the answer this question that what makes us human?, the inquiry has pointed at multiple aspects such as whether humans are different sociologically and biologically as compared to the rest of the world. In the account of this explanation, it can be observed from the "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", That being human means to have the ability to understand the emotions of another person as well as one’s self, also known as empathy. As in order to give an account to the perspective of being human Deckard can be observed in his humanistic attempt in this novel. However, the definition of being human to have two different prospects, and they can be compared by the analysis of the role and actions of Deckard and K in "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and "Blade Runner 2049" (Villenueve, 2017).
Both the novel and movie tends to explain what it means to be human, but considering the aspect of humanity, both have highlighted a different aspect, as the character of Deckard is a human that leads a mission against the androids, which is solely for the cause of survival of his species, i.e., humans. In his journey, he faces difficulties and fights the evils so that he can save other peoples to the hazards of artificial intelligence known as androids. Hence, the Deckard sacrifices his peace and happiness for the sake of other's peace (Dick, 1996). Empathy has also been highlighted as one of the most prominent aspects of Deckard's humanity as compared to the Replicants also known as androids in the movie. Hence, based on the role of Deckard it can be seen that to be human it means to understand the feeling of others. Sacrifices also make us what we are, as did Deckard by fighting for the survival of others. The empathy test on androids is also a symbolization of the fact that emotions and empathy is the basic and core element of being human, and the absence of them is considered as being a replicant or mere a robot (Dick, 1996).
Keeping in the notice the other perspective of being human, the role of K in "Blade Runner 2049" is also taken into account. Considering K, contrary to the role of Deckard, K is a replicant also known as Android; however, being a replicant, he still chooses to fight for humanity. He sacrifices his whole being in order to save the life of a human. K tends to fight against his generation, to make a daughter to meet with his father. The person for whom he tends to fight is the one who has played a major role in the mission of vanishing them, but K still does not allow goodness to be faded in the mask of revenge. On the other hand, he fights until his last breath just for the happiness of others (Villenueve, 2017). K chooses to spend his life for some meaningful cause. In this way, the role played by K in the movie “Blade Runner 2049" is able to give us another insight about what it means to be human, and according to the role of K, to be human means to evaluate one's emotions and actions, and choose a motive that can bring happiness and peace to others. To be human also depends upon our will and choices as observed from the character of K, he is not a human biologically, but his actions prove him to have, more sacred place than humans (Bourke, 2011). Hence, the philosophical view which describes that being human is identified by the choices they make and their will to take actions towards the righteous seems supported by the role (Villenueve, 2017). Despite being replicants, he still showcases the action that takes to be humans by sacrificing his life and fighting for the happiness of others.
Both K and Deckard depicts that what it means to be humans, in their different circumstances, as Deckard representing the humans on the other hand K depicting the human instincts in modern era robots and replicants, which tends to show more human attributes than that of the so-called humans in real (Dick, 1996). The detailed account on the characters of K and Deckard is able to shed light that what it means to be human. Considerably, to be human, it requires to choose what a person himself is feeling as well as what others around are feeling. Also, empathy and the choice of actions are important in defining what is human and what is inhuman (Bourke, 2011).
Conclusions
The essence of being human is dependant on the choice of one’s actions and the evaluation of others as well as our feelings. The features of Deckard and K’s characters are able to conclude this thesis with the argument that to sacrifice for the happiness of others and to show empathy is what it means to be human.
Works Cited
Dick, Philip K. Do androids dream of electric sheep?. Del Rey Books, 1996.
Villenueve, D. "Blade Runner 2049.[Motion picture]." Los Angeles: Alcon Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Bud Yorkin Productions, Torridon Films 16 (2017): 14.
Bourke, Joanna. What it Means to be Human: Reflections from 1791 to the Present. Counterpoint Press, 2011.
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