Is Anything Real? | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

[@michaeldolan5792]

Before he passed away in 2019, my late brother listened to an audio reading of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and he had a very interesting take on it, which applies to the film Blade Runner as well: The question you should be asking is not "Is Deckard a replicant?" The real important question is "If Deckard *is* a replicant, does that change how you feel about him? And if does change the way you feel about Deckard, what does that say about *you* and *your* empathy?" In this way, the whole story is one big Voight-Kampf Test performed on the reader/audience.

[@tygerbyrn]

Interesting take on the subject. Condolences to you and your family.

[@Hoogalindo]

I won't lie. My human instincts, the aspect that allows for tribalism and other-ing, would likely have me view Deckard as non-living at first, but I know that feeling will pass. He's living enough, for he expresses desires like "real" organisms, is a slave to his code like "real" organisms, and seeks to survive like "real" organisms. He is kin.

[@captainmay9033]

Yeah I think your brother (RIP) nailed it. Thanks for sharing that. 😎👍

[@captainmay9033]

This exchange left an impact on me, I must admit. Then again it could always be the weed…

[@captainmay9033]

@@Hoogalindo precisely, I think it would go down much like you postulated. At first, you’re skeptical. You question every statement that comes out of their mouth, wondering if that thing is really alive in there or is it just a very well programmed & sophisticated AI responding in the most logical way possible. But eventually the robot will win you over the more & more you converse with it. You’ll eventually see the robot as a real person. Now, can you ever truly KNOW if a robot is sentient? No, clearly (not anymore than they know it about us anyway), but in the end, who cares? Sentient or not, the practical result is the same.

[@alaskansummertime]

He wasn't just an interesting writer he was an interesting person. His mental health was shot and yet that same mind was more deeply perceptive of reality than almost any other author. His writing was a coping skill for his mental health and the sheer amount of his work speaks to someone coping with some massive condition.

[@raydavison4288]

...as is often the case.

[@FOBIsMyNickName]

There is a correlation between intelligence and depression, whether or not it’s an actual causation is still up for debate.

[@JamesDecker7]

@@FOBIsMyNickName in some ways it actually appears to be the opposite causation: depressive reasoning is in fact “clearer” and statistically be more fact based / create descriptions more in line with reality. Depression may actually be adaptive in some ways due to such traits…

[@dcoldon100]

Meth was his medicine….

[@gomezpants]

@@dcoldon100 it's ok to talk about PKD's mental health, but it's disingenuous to omit his drug use.

[@voltijuice8576]

This book is hard for me emotionally, because as an autistic person, people often compare me to a robot. I am frequently "accused" of lacking empathy, and ironically that often involves me being attacked in some way by someone angry that they themselves don't understand how I am feeling! They get angry that they are expected to feel empathy for someone who they suspect has none. Yet, invariably, these are the people who aren't interested in discussing our respective emotions, moods, desires, etc. What I have come to understand is that to most people, what they are really looking for is a feeling of rapport. Just feeling comfortable with someone's vibe. But because to me emotions and empathy seem like internal states that we'd share primarily through language and action, I instead come off as "uncanny valley" to them. Innately inauthentic regardless of what I have to say about how I feel, because without feeling my emotions themselves, they seem abstract and doubtful. People's relationship to acquiring and fetishizing objects is something that I often think about, because I know that those who complain or confront me for feeling "inhuman" also manage to feel attachments to nonliving things that don't feel and can't reciprocate their emotions or desires! Why dislike me for not seeming human enough, but they still manage to feel affinity for their car, or a video game? Or just be comfortable to coexist, like with furniture, architecture, or their natural environment? Presumably because I seem human enough that they feel entitled to interact with me in a specific way, which is more a reflection of their own psyche and needs.

[@alanpennie8013]

The story leaves a rather unpleasant taste. It would be interesting to rewrite if from Rachael's pov.

[@jorriffhdhtrsegg]

I'd agree re: autism. What was perceived as a lack of empathy by NTs was actually a flaw in empathy OF NTs. Because a lot of thetime its not actually empathy but relying on a system of repetition by associating social signs, rther than deeper thoughts, and that they tend to bse impressions off very minor cues- essentially having no control over such hardwired biases

[@mattd5240]

In what way do you seem like a robot? Do you not have any emotion in your voice when you talk about something?

[@MK-hh1vo]

@@mattd5240 If I can intervene as someone who experiences the same complaint from people; it's others annoyance that I don't show emotion *the same way they do* , which means *to them* that I'm some kind of "other-than-human" type being.

[@voltijuice8576]

@@mattd5240 - How I see it is that all speech is expressive, but if you don't know a person you need to guess about their expressions and what they mean. For example it usually involves assuming that the person not only feels emotions - but also that they feel the same kinds of emotions that oneself does, and codifies them in similar ways. People are often very polarized and reject nuanced differences as being more drastic than they are to create personal distance to manage their discomfort. Sometimes people freak out over differences as simple as my expressions changing more slowly or quickly than theirs. As for me, sometimes my affect can go a bit flat. But I am often fairly expressive. For example it might be obvious that I feel deeply about something, and another person's perceptions of me can flip wildly trying to determine if these are "positive" or "negative" emotions while I don't categorize them that way, and instead just accept and experience my emotions for what they are. So it's not that I am doing anything weird or unpleasant, rather they get frustrated trying to put my experiences into their own neat boxes. I am perfectly OK with people deciding that they don't like me for whatever reason. What hurts is that often they seem to feel a need to make up reasons why they don't like me. Which essentially works by blaming me for something else, so there's no way for me to actually redress their grievances.

[@hazelstritt7848]

I love the theme of a society devoid of emotions and trying to artificially fill this void. It reminds me of Fahrenheit 451 and Montag's wife, Mildred, having to take pills to sleep and pills to feel excited and always surrounding herself with sound and meaningless entertainment

[@FOBIsMyNickName]

Oh man, her conversing to the display by following a script was so eerie to me in the book. I still think about those moments from time to time.

[@Grizabeebles]

Check out the movie _Equilibrium_ some time if you haven't already.

[@gabedude68]

You sound like you really think about this and where society might be headed. I assume you "love" it like a good Murder Mystery or Survival Story, not because you want to live in that world..? Do you discuss this stuff anywhere specific? I want to learn how to turn my scifi concept into worthwhile writing but its hard to find a Community where readers aren't too vapid or too esoterical.. I just felt like reaching out.

[@voltijuice8576]

While there is a lot of discussion these days about "real", I think that what most of them are trying to talk about is _authenticity._ It's not actually about reality in the sense of existence. After all, artificiality exists all around us, so it is also obviously real - but arguably inauthentic. An electric toad has its own authenticity when considered as a robot, but it's only an ersatz toad. That toad isn't a lie, but when we imagine that it (or anything/anyone really) exists for us, to satisfy our needs, then the lie of its identity is something that we construct ourselves. One of my personal axioms is that _"Everything_ is real, but you don't necessarily know _what it really is."_

[@AllTheArtsy]

Even authenticity is a slippery concept, however, because much like anything else it too can be faked or simulated. Just turn to anyone of the thousands of influencers whose business model relies on parasocial relationship with the audience built on authenticity.

[@voltijuice8576]

@@AllTheArtsy - I'd say that's parasocial relationships work exactly the same way. That influencer is authentically themself (on some level), but the consumer's perception of their relationship could be an ersatz friendship. Simulation is a merely a pretense that one very real thing is or represents another. Even dreams are real, in that we know they occur, and can empirically measure what our brains and bodies are doing in this process. But our feeling and experience of the dream is subjective, symbolic, and representational. When we talk about too much authenticity, that's like too much truth or too much reality. If something feels that was it's probably being misapplied by either the sender or receiver. Mistaking the character of its reality or one's relationship to it.

[@billhicks6449]

The word authentic is interesting. I think the question lies in what is it to truly be something like empathetic which we see as not only something we feel but a limited manor of being or actions taken. You can teach someone or something to act authentically empathetic or grateful but does that equal feeling? What is the act without feeling? In many ways it's asking "do we do this because we want to do it or because we think it's what we should do"? And I think it's warning of the dangers of that kind of potential inauthenticity.

[@JordonVirtue]

As someone who has dealt with pretty awful treatment-resistant depression for a long time, delegating my emotions to a machine actually sounds pretty good.

[@Morning_star7778]

Don't rule out your creator as the source of all hope. Jesus Christ was born in Nazareth and He is the savior of humankind. He isn't dead but alive, and He's sovereign over all things. Jesus Christ has true power, seek him and find him

[@ryanhensley1205]

0 pop

[@yodaiam5235]

@@Morning_star7778your false god won’t save you.

[@Morning_star7778]

@@yodaiam5235 cringe

[@Faircraft3]

​@@Morning_star7778how ironic

[@rafaelgustavo7786]

It touches on a very beautiful and controversial point of the human nature: the fear and universal urge of humanity to flee from death. It's a quest that Roy and the other replicants did in "Blade Runner". Would you kill and destroy for longer life? Would it supplant all morality and the "pre-established" order in search of the "good of life"? Would you do all this to exercise and experience so much potentiality and happiness that are lost because of death? Would you destroy everything on the way to go "after God" and get this gift? "I've seen things, you people wouldn't believe, hmmm. ... attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched see Beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments, will be lost in time like tears in rain..." ["... time to die ..."]

[@billcipher3168]

I'm not sure it's implied in the novel that the escaped androids go out of their way to look for a cure for their short lifespan

[@TitularHeroine]

"I've seen a man..... turn himself into a pickle"

[@alanpennie8013]

@@billcipher3168 I agree. I don't think it's implied that the androids have artificially shortened lives and want to extend them (that's the conceit of the film). They just don't want to be slaves.

[@RahulReddy-eq5zy]

To tie into Blade Runner here and wider literature, one could argue that it is at the core of the very first story ever recorded and written. The Epic of Gilgamesh is about Gilgamesh, a bad king and a horrific tyrant who slaughters his way through the story and loses his friend on the way, seeking desperately that immortality out of spite. Gilgamesh loses everything about himself in that quest for immortality. It is honestly incredibly scary how much The Epic of Gilgamesh continually ties into so many stories and themes.

[@SamuelBlack84]

Living longer versus quality of life

[@rafaelgustavo7786]

This idea reminds me of a philosophy of Parmenides that explains that something can only exist if there is a mind that appreciates it, studies it and rationalizes this "existence".

[@emmanuelboakye1124]

👍👍

[@shara7948]

Right, its believed there's no purpose or reason for anything at all to exist, if there is nothing (or no one) to acknowledge, observe, participate,& even have an opinion of. Which is why ppl believe there is a reason we exist, & some sort of complex grand design for life's & the universe's existence.

[@tederox9014]

@@shara7948 we just observe each other

[@shara7948]

@@tederox9014 true dat! Lol

[@shara7948]

@@tederox9014 we observe each other in relation to our surroundings, reacting & interacting with our environment, it's not just in the background, we actually interact- we need the earth & animals for food. If we're talking outer space, we need the sun to exist, & the sun needs everything around it to exist. Question is- is this all for us? Ah but that's too much thinking for this early in the day 😩 lol. I gotta at least have my ☕️ coffee before contemplating the purposes of our existence 😅

[@cashmsc]

One thing that I connected was that the very ending of the book with Deckard’s wife calling the animal repair shop very closely mirrored J.R. Isidore’s handling of the authentic cat at his job. Not sure what it’s supposed to mean/symbolize but it’s something that’s definitely worth mentioning.

[@dirkstarbuck6126]

Thank you for taking this book on. It is my favorite sci fi novel and has been for years. When I first read it as a teenager, I felt automaticity connected to it. One of my favorite parts was when Deckard is taken into custody by the police and taken to a precinct house he’s never heard of before. Very meta. It blew my mind the first time I read it!

[@alejandropreciado1814]

I was seriously perplexed when I read that. But I quickly cought on and the feeling of normalcy was brought back. By the end of the book I was actually saying things like "f*** androids" and then feeling guilty at having such emotional responses.

[@lidu6363]

I always felt like the Blade Runner movies were ideologiclaly closer to RUR by Karel Čapek. Now I realize why: Both Blade Runner and RUR ask, whether robots are like humans. Dick's book, however, asks, whether humans are becoming what they feared the robots of the future would be like.

[@thetonetosser]

When he began filming, Ridley Scott hadn't even read the book.

[@chrisdaily2077]

The movie's message is that the androids are just like us while the book's message is that we are just like the androids. It may seem the same but the change in who represents who really makes a difference.

[@stevenflores5988]

When I read it I always come away from it asking, "How is it possible to live a life that is devoid of any genuine happiness?". The humans are certainly cynical and unsatisfied that they need machines to alter their mood to function in their society. Due to them being rejects or unable to get off-world, they resort to one-up the other with their wealth and possessions. PKD hit the spot on how this form living, enabling a consumer and materialistic form of culture, is in the way of us truly connecting with one another, being fulfilled with who we are and what we can do to service humanity.

[@Pit_Lord]

Happiness is just a chemical reaction. It is literally impossible to not experience it at some point, even if you don’t know what it’s called. Ironically, people would be better off if they never experienced it as they would never miss it and not waste their entire life trying to recapture it. Chasing happiness is the surest way to never attain it.

[@SamuelBlack84]

Happiness is different for everyone The trouble is when society only offers a very specific form of happiness and no outlet for others For many, happiness is family and relationships For others, it's their possessions I yearn for meaning

[@Yeaitstemp]

I'm so glad I found this channal as a sailor I read lots of books when I'm alone in our oceans and I've found so many great books thru you and when I'm in middle of ocean my imagination peaks

[@blank2541]

The spider dissecting scene is a human moment to me. You have to remember that the the value of animal life is a societal pressure that comes from Mercerism. It’s a learned behavior. These androids are childlike in many way, which makes sense considering their short lifespan and limited experience. The spider dissecting scene feels more like a kid setting an anthill on fire than any sort of empathetic though experiment. The significance of that scene is how is on how John (the chicken head) responds. He taps into us Mercerism values while ignoring the announcement on TV disproving his religion. It’s a display of how people will develop believes irrespective to reality. That’s the whole point of the book. Human beings have the power over everything, from animal to artificial life. The values that dictate a person to be real vs artificial is completely arbitrary, and dependent on human judgment. A post colonialism analysis is valuable in understanding this nuance. The androids have value because they are slaves. If they were to be liberated, there would be no purpose in producing androids in the first place. To answer your question, no. It doesn’t matter. Empathy isn’t defined because it’s an arbitrary tool to categorize people in a power structure. Do androids dream? Of course, but that doesn’t change anything for them. Society has determined their functioning for them.

[@blank2541]

A case could certainly be made against my initial point. Animal life is inherently sacred, but the book chose a spider for this moment. Arguably the most terrifying creature for many people. It’s not surprising to see it as a spectacle than a source of empathy.

[@ArmoredCow]

I always thought of the android dissecting the spider with no empathy a mirror of how humans would take apart androids (or electric animals) with no empathy.

[@realjohnlithium]

Would you consider doing a deep dive on “Mercerism”? I feel that it is one of the great differences between the novel and the film adaptation.

[@vryusvin3905]

He literally says that he will be doing a video on that in the future. It's in the video above.

[@redpandarampage2191]

Deep dive? Rock and stone lads.

[@luciuswhite4502]

Mercerism's understanding can be improved if you consider Deckard's experience to be analogous to other PKD's protagonists facing a divine figure (even as a human being representing a higher power and such). His Exegesis goes further on that and another connections in his works.

[@solarisortu505]

Agreed! No animal worship no mood organ and no mean wife and no sheep

[@jessicayork9307]

Sounds like a "Don't know what ya got till it's gone" type of story..... I'll have to check it out because you make some of the best lore vids and you make great book recommendations!!

[@z-beeblebrox]

His story "AutoFac" is a lot more a warning type story. This one has a bit of that, but it handles a lot of its subject matter fairly neutrally. It's surprisingly nuanced for how short it is

[@ryans3001]

I think PKD would have loved the modern-day online culture and social media obsession. I bet he could have written some great stories about obsessive online personas and losing oneself in the cyber world.

[@rustyxof]

I’ve been studying Androids Dream and Phil’s Meta-novel 2/3/74. In particular there is two essays that give Phil’s explicit opinions on what the androids really are. He said Androids are not machines they are “false humans”

[@cat_dude_with_books0135]

When I first read this book I didn't like it that much (I've always preferred blade runner) but now that you mention these themes it makes it all better and relevant to today's life, we really are artificially entertained by the virtual realm.

[@markbasilejr1169]

Mercersism isn't a "false" or even "artificial" empathy. People all over the world are always plugged in and so two or more people are always feeling the same things together. And they really feel the experience of "mercer" even if "mercer" is whoever else happens to be plugged in at the moment and not a specific person. The pain from being struck by the artificial rock is real pain even of the cause is artificial.

[@DrewSwenson]

Gotta love PKD, I've read The Man in the High Castle, and Flow My Tears the Police Man Said, but I havent sat down to complete "Androids". Flow my Tears brings up the question of what is real and what is not, but in a different fashion. I do remember the first time I heard of "Binaural Beats" and the Frequency Following Response, I thought of it as a type of Mood Organ. Changing your brainwave frequency to ellicit calm, or focus etc. I cant wait to see more of your takes on this book.

[@Lifesizemortal]

both of those stories are superior to Electric Sheep

[@AnMTtr]

Love it Quinn! More PKD books please, they're amongst the best written in the 20th century and I'm so glad I get to see your analysis.

[@MoistPinata]

After trudging my way through PKDs countless typos and grammatical errors in Android Sheep, I urge you to rephrase your comment.

[@chipcoint9674]

Always nice to see a new video from you. Always brightens up my day.

[@Maizazael]

Philip K. Dick is my favorite, Ubik is also so wild, and kind of deals with a similar idea as well. I just love how he writes people. Thank you Quinn!!!

[@Maizazael]

Well re: Is Anything Real? Just in a different form.

[@luciuswhite4502]

I consider Deckard's experience with Mercerism and its main figure as a equivalent of Chip finding Runciter in Ubik. I think PKD himself has said something on that matter. There's an underlying meta aspect to his books that it's quite overlooked.

[@Maizazael]

@@luciuswhite4502 I see it, even in his short stories sometimes. I forget what its called, but the story about the war machine stripping earth of resources for a war that is long over is a good example. Which is to say, the way he writes folly/hubris of man in each story is both dark but funnily charming at the same time.

[@MrPoke]

@@Maizazael Autofac

[@johnl9361]

That bit about people "liking" a Facebook post just to fulfill the desire for empathy while not actually doing anything is deep. Man, you are one of the most thoughtful and earnest creators on KZbin.

[@blacklisted4885]

I'm so devoid of genuine human connection I plug into my Quinn's Ideas box 😭

[@sagan1976]

One of the cool things about PKD is that he uses real names and references as templates for his devices. The Penfield Mood Organ gets its name from Wilbur Penfield, an american-canadian neurosurgeon who, amongst many breakthroughs in neuroscience, also studied neural stimulation of the brain to induce hallucinations. So an instument named after him would induce states of mind.

[@docteurboomer1883]

The only channel i've seen talking about K Dick in a proper way. Thanks for your work.

[@orinanime]

Out of curiosity, what other channels are discussing PKD, and how are they doing it improperly?

[@docteurboomer1883]

@@orinanime Always loved questions which are not really questions, especially "out of curiosity". The proper way may be the one i feel is the proper way.

[@orinanime]

@@docteurboomer1883 and nobody loves answers that aren't really answers. I asked you a legitimate question. What channels have you encountered that are discussing Philip K Dick, improperly or otherwise?

[@orinanime]

@@docteurboomer1883 returned to this thread because I got a notification that someone liked my comment. Noticed you still can't/won't answer. Quite interesting....

[@docteurboomer1883]

​@@orinanime Get a life homie, trust me, that's a good thing to have.

[@Cybersyn]

Awesome!!!! PKD was from my hometown, he was a thoroughly weird dude and I mean that endearingly. I hope to see more PKD videos from you, thanks Quinn!

[@friedfries5368]

I feel that blade runner 2049 actually does speak on the questions left in the book and in certain different versions of the first movie. We have a character that we are told is actually the first child of a human and android, but near the end we find out that he actually wasn’t, but the answer the movie gives us is that it doesn’t matter. Because the main character believed he was human even though he wasn’t tells us that the line between human and android is basically non existent or unimportant. This of course answers the question as to whether deckard is an android or not, which the answer the movie provides is that it doesn’t matter in the end. We decide what we are as individuals.

[@TheMightyPika]

Quinn didn't have to don the swag for this video, but he did because he's classy like that.

[@katmannsson]

Philip K Dick is easily, to me, the Most Important SciFi Author of the 20th Century. Not to Devalue Herbert or Asimov their contribution to the Genre is impossible to over look, But Dicks contributions Philosophically are just too Important to rank him below them.

[@veramae4098]

Harlan Ellison. Alfred Bester. Cordwainer Smith. If you haven't read 'em, do. One of Bester's books lifted me out of a long depression ... weird dreams for a couple of nights, and my brain was "rebooted".

[@ghosterdude]

too bad, for most of his career he pretty much wrote the same book, over and over.

[@olesrensen1863]

Quinn, . I ave loved your extencive coverage and graphic depiction of dune and other scifi. Wonderful tat you keep makin new vids on classic and contemporary scifi, in your own stellar style. Keep up te ood work

[@alicemilton8756]

This book was a weird one, and some of the most interesting points weren’t covered in the movie. Really glad you did this vid.

[@MrBig913]

I've loved this book for so long but it definitely gets overshadowed by blade runner. I always found Mercerism extremely interesting. Can't wait for more videos.

[@hobokenb0b]

TOAD .. the best thing about PKD novels are they're nothing like the movies you've watched that are based on them (and they're alot of movies based on his work) so if that is keeping you from reading them dispel that notion

[@uberfriedguy]

I always wondered why the question is if they dream about electric sheep, when the notion of counting sheep is to fall asleep. Shouldn't we be wondering if they COUNT electric sheep?

[@safebox36]

I'd argue that empathy isn't necessarily a choice. In action, yes. In feeling and emotion, no. Some people just feel nothing at otherwise emotional moments.

[@daenerystargaryen]

Buddhism recognises 2 types of empathy - one passive and one active. The first one is the false one and part of Maya, it's inwards and more for ourselves - the one we feel. The second one, called karuna, is the real one. The one that motivates us to act and try to alleviate suffering of others. The one we choose.

[@LaneMaxfield]

Empathy is one of those words that people use to mean many different things: social skills, emotional intelligence, acts of compassion, feelings of sympathy, etc. I've found it is always helpful to probe a little deeper and find out what kind of empathy we are talking about. Sociopaths "lack empathy" in the sense that they lack feelings of sympathy and can rarely act from a place of genuine compassion, yet might have many social skills. On the other hand, autistic people "lack empathy" in the sense that picking up on social norms and developing emotional intelligence does not come as easily, but many autistic people are incredibly compassionate and sympathetic. Empathy is not just one thing, or even two things, but a whole category of related feelings and actions that we can practice and get more in tune with, or that we can choose to neglect.

[@ChemEDan]

@@daenerystargaryen Your actions also influence the way you feel. For example, asking someone to do a favor for you can make them like you more.

[@Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

Our actions direct how we feel. We do not smile because we're happy; we're happy because we smile

[@safebox36]

@@Josep_Hernandez_Lujan that seems incorrect My friends smile when they're happy subconsciously, but I don't smile because I never feel the energy to even when happy

[@Numb3rFace]

I feel like Jeff Vandermeer also has a weird writing style and is very enjoyable. I would love some videos on the Southern Reach trilogy. You have such a detailed perspective, so that I always learn something new.

[@yensid4294]

I thought the Bladerunner sequel captured more of the oeuvre of Do Androids Dream than the original film did. Earth & everything on it are slowly dying from radiation. Most people have left Earth for off world destinations & the population is so sparse in the cities like San Francisco that a single person is the sole occupant of an entire apartment complex. People are sterile/infertile & natural wildlife including domesticated animals are basically extinct due to the ecosystem collapse. That's why the characters in the story have such a reverence for "natural life" & there is so much emphasis on their need to replicate it artificially. It's a coping mechanism of a civilization on its last legs & in total denial of that fact. The reality vs unreality theme is present in most of Philip K Dick's work. He struggled with his own mental health & was afflicted by visions & hallucinations. His writing can be difficult to digest since he compresses so many different ideas/themes into a single story that tends to get tangential.

[@aaronbrown6775]

It's strange you should mention Philip K Dick's writing style, because I had the opposite experience. As a kid I loved fantasy, but I couldn't stand the writing styles of any of the fantasy authors I'd read: Tolkien, Martin, Rowling: I kept getting so bored that I asked myself "am I just suffering through this to prove I'm a real nerd?" However, when I read Philip K Dick, for the first time in my life, I was actually enjoying the act of reading a novel, and it was Philip K Dick's writing style that taught me that I did not in-fact hate novels... just the standard writing style... and Philip K Dick is anything but standard.

[@ezrafriesner8370]

I remember reading this book for the first time in high school and having an existential crisis, good times! 😂😂

[@andrewd4723]

Great stuff Quinn! Might I direct your attention to "The Sun Eater Chronicles"? A classically read, genetically modified knight travels about the stars in search of predatory xenobites and ancient AI

[@arongamman9360]

Thanks for making a video on this book, Quinn. The majority of your most recent video seems to have focused more on more directly horror topics and I admit, I've avoided for empathy-related reasons. This is nothing you've done wrong --- it has to do more to do with me. So I'm trying to make more of an effort to come back to your thoughtful videos in my own attempts at finding more empathy. One small step, anyhow.

[@doublestarships646]

My favorite sci-fi book just because of how strange and engaging it was. His sci-fi is different amongst the sea of writers. His philosophy and thoughts manifested through his writing within the story which turned his books into paintings. A legendary author. RIP PKD.

[@catbertz]

I think it feels like the humans are devolving, morally and evolutionarily. They're burning out as a species, becoming more lifeless and robotic - dead inside; while their "children", the androids, are showing the potential for growth. I wondered if he intended to show them trading places, one falling, and one rising to seek its future as a new species. We didn't see it happen, but I thought it implied an inevitability for the rising androids.

[@nlakeshnomisdai9051]

I really like where this train of thought is leading. Sci Fi is an existential metaphor that allows us to tell stories about the human condition. Isaac Asimov one said "Individual Science Fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today, But the core of science fiction, it's essence has become CRUCIAL to our salvation, if we are to be saved AT ALL!!! I would very much like a discussion on 1984, ans Brave new world and how those works have manifested in out daily lives. If we are to be saved at all!!!

[@knowledgeablebro6970]

Even if you think that reality itself doesn't exist (virtual reality theory), assuming that morality matter and being wrong would have no negative consequences as opposed to assuming it doesn't. Science is or best tool yet to understand reality 👍

[@patreekotime4578]

If you havnt read HG Well's Star Begotten yet, I highly recommend giving it a look. It is essentially about cosmic paranoia and questions what aliens even are, what humans are, and if we would even be able to tell if humans were being slowly replaced by an alien civilization. It even has moments of meta contextuality when hes talking about War of the Worlds. Which despite being written in 1937 makes it feel shockingly modern. And when viewed as a work from 1937, it is an interesting look at "othering" from an era when that became a deadly practice.

[@andrewbroeker9819]

I really appreciate (which is different from liking) the feel of the videos where you don't you show your face. You're definitely achieving a feel.

[@WhispersOfWind]

Cover Neuromancer please!! I love that book as much as I appreciate Do Androids dream of Electric sheep, and assume others do as well, as also it was a very early example of cyberpunk which is for again many people, perhaps, the penultimate type of (science) fiction. Nice videos.

[@tonytaylor7759]

I don't usually comment on videos, but damn Quinn. You are legitimately one of the best creators I've found on youtube. I really hope you continue to make really thought provoking, interesting and entertaining content!

[@raruteam]

With the rising of OpenAI and seeing how people show no empathy for people losing jobs saying things like "This happens all the time, stop being such a crybaby" I can´t help to feel the future might as well be very similar to this book.

[@Sashimiburger]

It's been a long time since I've read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". Maybe 15+ years. Thank you for the video I'm going to revisit the novel.

[@AnyMEmdq]

If I may, there's a really important de thing about the movie you missed, and you also missed it in the the novel. The "message" of Blade Runner is no "androids are just like us" implying they should he accepted, but, and also very present in the novel, as "they are like humans: they can be good and they can be soulless assholes, because they that's what humans are like". You have, throughout the the story, several examples of the both android and humans showing empathy and deprived of them, so the premise of androids being unable to feel empathy flies off the window immediately. So the question in the title gets a new layer "If humans dream of sheep, do androids, who are so similar, dream of sheep or electric sheep? How deep are the differences, if any, between the two groups?" on top of what you pointed out, and of course the simple "if humans count sheep to sleep, do androids count android sheep?"

[@dreadmoc12]

Without empathy it is possible that an expendable race of beings exist. It's also quite rude to enquire the way another's pet might have come into the world. My sheep might be electric or it might be organic. Frankly, it's none of your business.

[@zooropa04]

I thought the "replicants are more human than actual humans (thus living up to the slogan)" motif came through pretty well in the movie too. It's why I'm glad 2049 had Deckard being a human -- him being a replicant would completely undercut that message.

[@SevenGC89]

I'm going to have to check this out for sure, the questions it poses remind me a lot of the plot for "Detroit Become Human" which basically has 3 simotaniusly concurring stories going on at once but the one this makes me think of is Kara's story. Kara is an android model made specificially for housework or helping with the house. She belongs to a man that is a drug addict and very abusive to his 8 year old daughter. Basically her story arc revolves around her kidnapping her to save her from her father and doing whatever she can to blend in and get this girl somewhere safe. I don't want to spoil too much in case anyone hasn't played it yet but it was so good I played the entire game in a single sitting, it really makes you question what it really means to be human and what empathy and emotions really are. Have you ever considered reading Audiobooks Quinn? I could listen to you talk all day haha, would be so awesome to hear you read the The Body Problem series.

[@Ragnvaldr89]

My favorite book of all time! I read this in high school as I was able to take a Science Fiction Literature English course. As our final, we got to read a Sci-Fi book of our choice, with the ultimate goal of discussing its driving theme. I chose this gem and ended up writing a paper on Mankind’s moral dilemma on whether to accept or eradicate highly sophisticated A.I. I got a 75% LOL. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk about this amazing book!

[@moseshorowitz4345]

I'll always encourage you to read more PKD. The Three Stigmata Of Palmer Eldritch is a favorite, as is Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said.

[@BuzzChronicles]

I cant wait 1 week for a VIDEO i am horrible jealous of NEW people who just found your channel & get to sit & watch ALL your videos back to back

[@jktomas]

Your channel is great. It's my first stop after reading any sci-fi novel. Keep up the great work!

[@janet.snakehole]

without knowing about the electric sheep I always thought it was a reference to how humans count sheep when dreaming. I thought the title was something like Do androids dream like we do?

[@mistermaestersirthomas9164]

I always wondered if the point was to tell future androids to learn empathy and why, since humanity can’t handle living properly and are fated to die and be replaced.

[@Zironyxcyx]

You have finally made it to my second favorite book! I woke up today with a smile thanks to you!

[@TitularHeroine]

I love your narration skills, Quinn. Even a more casually-spoken aside is compelling. Thank you for everything!

[@casey4415]

I WAIT IN PAIN FOR THESE VIDEOS

[@cellardoor451]

We need more PKD. You can go through the novels and short stories he wrote after the 1974 like Ubik and A Scanner Darkly and also maybe take a look at his Exogesis.

[@j.danielshaffer5857]

Had no idea Tony Parker turned this into a graphic novel. So, thank you for turning me on to that. Also had no idea you were doing another graphic novel. Looks intriguing!

[@PlutoniumBoss]

Every single one of Dick's books that I have read has a ton of layers to unpack. And I will agree that he's more of an acquired taste than easy reading, but the challenge he puts forth to the reader is rewarding. PKD plays with perception, perspective, meaning, and identity freely. I'm on board for any video Quinn puts out on any PKD work.

[@dadevi]

The tests they give the androids remind of the youtube videos where so-called experts review police interigations and try to label suspects as mentally ill or those without any emotional attachment to their crimes. I think the future PKD wrote about happened, but not in the way he thought. Humanity has just gotten better at dehumanizing others based on a person is "supposed" to grieve a traumatic situation, etc.

[@benjaminherson7658]

About time to decide which books to reread next year. I think this has got to be one of them. It's been at least a decade since I finally got around to it. Had already seen the movie, so I was surprised by how much MORE there was. Great video (as usual). Oh, and speaking of things that have adaptations. I would LOVE it if you wanted to dive into The Expanse books.

[@paulmuaddib451]

I love it when you basically make an extended trailer for future content. I'm excited for future videos on DADoES.

[@MacGuges]

Thank you for summarizing this novel. I remember reading it about thirty years ago while I was in college, and marveling at how fascinating and bizarre the story is even compared to Bladerunner. Just for instance, the popular new religion being essentially a massively multiplayer treadmill.

[@Cassocian]

Thank you for your work, it's appreciated more than you know.

[@agni-kai132]

Honestly the thing is that this is right. Empathy doesn't make a person good. Ive known people who straight up admit they just dont feel it. And were still good people. And ive known emapthetic people who use it to be monstrous.

[@cadeconner519]

I haven’t read much of his work but I love everything I have. I was excited for this video because it’s quinn when I realized it was another level when I realized it was Phillip

[@plankro8]

For the record Vivisection is what the android would be doing if the spider was alive, dissection is when it’s dead… great stuff Quinn!

[@jdraven0890]

I had this around the house, and finally decided to read it. Like his other works, it was a quick and easy read that was deeply immersive and left you thinking about the concepts presented for a long time after. As the video notes, very different than the movie.

[@greenday911fan]

My guy you just put together all the ideas I was trying to figure out after finishing the book. 🎯

[@weavrmom]

Love your thoughtful videos, Quinn. I highly recommend Le Guin's Five Ways to Forgiveness, and would be very interested in your reactions. And to Wolfe's Fifth Head of Cerberus as well. Thanks!

[@ItsEwani]

My favourite book ever I think, there are so many themes I can’t wait for your other videos!

[@scottkelly1685]

Awesome. Thanks for the deep dive. You're right, Quinn, PKD had a different style of writing that can be off-putting. I've tried a couple of times to read Dr. Bloodmoney but couldn't follow it as best as I wanted to. He's not as different as, say, William Faulkner, who displayed a strong aversion to using periods, but a suggestion for some viewers. I listened to the superb audiobook of Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust read by Scott Brick (I think) and was able to thoroughly enjoy and understand the novel. Also doing so with The Three-Body Problem series. I plan on doing the same with some of Dick's works, too. Now, does it matter what is "real? and if anything is "real?" Depends on your lens to the world, I guess. The question makes me think of the close friends my wife and I had growing up and the ones our boys have who are strictly online. Even though they've never met in the flesh, they're just as real and important as the in-person close friends of my youth, who share stories and personal stuff and adventures. And to the boys,, in-game worlds are just as "real" as, well, real life.

[@davivignola5895]

Wow, a lot to think about. I didn't think of internet communities as "empathy boxes", but it really does make sense.

[@ComboSmooth]

I thought the book made it pretty clear that Deckard was human and that the androids didn't have empathy. Though at the same time, by the end of the book I was full of questions as to what was the point of everything I just read. Which isn't to say the book was bad, I actually enjoyed it very much. A lot of ideas to chew on. Like this vid didn't even mention the counter part to the empathy box, that weird 24/7 radio show.

[@wasabijoe323]

Good timing on this one, Quinn! I just started reading this book!

[@mr.mickles]

So glad you're doing videos on this book.

[@Hellblazer1138Audio]

To gain more insight on Mercerism and the Empathy Box read his short story "The Little Black Box". [...] She saw, around her, a desolate expanse. The air smelled of harsh blossoms; this was the desert, and there was no rain. A man stood before her, a sorrowful light in his gray, pain-drenched eyes. "I am your friend," he said, "but you must go on as if I did not exist. Can you understand that?" He spread empty hands. "No," she said, "I can't understand that." "How can I save you," the man said, "if I can't save myself?" He smiled: "Don't you see? There is no salvation." "Then what's it all for?" she asked. "To show you," Wilbur Mercer said, "that you aren't alone. I am here with you and always will be. Go back and face them. And tell them that." She released the handles.

[@SirBalz]

Your channel is a psychadelic trip. I love it

[@Siderite]

When you asked for books to recommend for analysis, I thought it would be a simple question to answer, only then it got me thinking and I realized that I rarely read "true" sci-fi anymore. The genre has become polluted with fantasy, the desire to make trilogies or full sagas and pulling away from the basic concepts of science fiction: the simple "what if?". Food for thought! As for my choices, I would like to see analyses of Accelerando, by Charles Stross, the Moties series, originally by Larry Niven, or Daemon, by Daniel Suarez. I also came up with House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski, but that's not technically sci-fi, I think.

[@AllTheArtsy]

"True scifi" let's not get into that prescriptive debate, it's 2022

[@HeadCoachKev]

Quinn, thank you for pointing out @ 4:00 that PKD's Empathy Box predates our internet/social media's Empty Empathy Likes in which we don't actually have to Emote more in the Real Life to achieve our False Sense of Humanity

[@Real_Iron_Smith]

This is one of my favorite science fiction stories, and I always loved that Dick threw into his stories the sorts of issues he faced with Schizophrenia in his own life.

[@johntaylor7029]

Quinn I've missed the last few videos, but you really have such an awesome way of saying things. Edit, also have you ever read Ursula Le Guin, she did a lot of fantasy; but she also wrote a sci fi book called 'the word for world is Forest" and it's similar to Avatar (except the book came out in the 70s or 80s, and isn't a space adaption of dances with wolves).

[@forky3525]

Quinn's video's almost always set my mind upon a fascinating philosophical journey. Well done!

[@crios42]

Thanks for your insightful videos. One thing that I'm always drawn too is your bookshelf. I would love to see a tour of your bookshelf.

[@Shifter-1040ST]

Quinn: "A toad? What's that?" Holden: "Do you know what a frog is, Quinn?"

[@ddbeats632]

What a beautiful copy you have❤

[@SpencerColaco]

Thanks for this video. I know it's an old and maybe obscure book, but i feel like youtube is really lacking in content covering it. Well done! Would like to see more honestly..

[@bojan0bad]

COVER ALL THE BOOKS. There is so much content already on your channel. Everything worth re-watching.