Sacrifice in The Name of Purity

Human history is characterized by numerous instances of mass purgings, genocides, and tyrannies, all motivated by an unyielding pursuit of purity. In Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, a dystopian world emerges from the ashes of radioactive fallout, where individuals with desirable traits are relocated to the safer environment of Mars, while those deemed less desirable are left to contend with the harsh realities of a poisoned Earth. This societal obsession with purity is evident in a contradictory social structure that discriminates against minorities, revealing humanity's deep-seated desire for superiority.

The Mechanisms of Eugenics

The society depicted in Dick’s narrative employs eugenics as a means of filtering candidates for emigration based on intelligence. This practice aims to prevent individuals labeled as “specials” from contaminating the purity of the human gene pool. From the beginning of the novel, humans are divided into two categories: the regulars and the specials. Those who do not meet the standards of reproduction or intelligence are classified as “specials,” effectively barring them from emigration or marriage. As a result, most regulars have already left for Mars, where “loitering on Earth potentially meant finding oneself abruptly classed as biologically unacceptable, a menace to the pristine heredity of the race.” (PKD 16). Once marked as special, these individuals, even if they accept sterilization, are rendered invisible in history, ceasing to be recognized as part of mankind.

Dehumanization and Historical Parallels

Specials, by virtue of their perceived inferiority, are not only denied the right to leave Earth but are also stripped of their humanity. According to Sims, “people can actually become so damaged biologically that they are no longer considered human, but rather part of a human subspecies” (Sims 1). This dehumanization leads society to omit specials from historical accounts, effectively rendering them insignificant. The drive to maintain a “pristine heredity” echoes historical purges, such as the Holocaust, where millions from minority groups were exterminated to make way for supposedly superior Aryans. Just as the Holocaust sought to eliminate the undesirables, this dystopian society aims to purge its population of specials, ensuring that only the superior genes of those deemed worthy remain in the annals of human history.

The Contradictory Social Hierarchy

Moreover, the social hierarchy established to assert human superiority is rife with contradictions. While androids are ostracized for their supposed lack of empathy, specials face discrimination for their alleged deficiencies in intelligence. In a chilling twist, androids “surpassed several classes of human specials in terms of intelligence,” evolving beyond a significant segment of humanity (PKD 30). However, despite their superior intellect, androids are excluded from society due to their inability to pass the Voigt-Kampff Empathy Test. This illustrates a central hypocrisy: while society prizes empathy over intellect, it simultaneously devalues specials based solely on their intelligence, disregarding any empathic capacity they may possess.

Empathy and the Human Condition

Deckard, the bounty hunter, grapples with the boundaries between humans and androids. He concludes that “empathy, evidently, existed only within the human community” (PKD 31). By assigning empathy exclusively to humans, society reinforces its own superiority. However, the purported “unimpaired group instinct” that supposedly characterizes humans is evidently lacking; if it were present, discrimination against androids and specials would not occur. True empathy would compel humans to include these marginalized groups, rather than ostracize them. Ironically, Deckard embodies the very antithesis of empathy as he hunts androids, blurring the lines between hunter and victim.

The Paradox of Individualism

Deckard’s solitary existence as a bounty hunter parallels the nature of androids, who are also depicted as solitary predators. This raises questions about the essence of humanity; although humans are often perceived as social creatures, Deckard’s actions reveal a stark individualism. His reluctance to share joy—“‘They’ll have our joy,’ Rick said, ‘but we’ll lose. We’ll exchange what we feel for what they feel. Our joy will be lost’” (PKD 174)—demonstrates a self-serving mentality akin to that of an android. By prioritizing his own joy over collective empathy, Deckard undermines the very principles that society claims define humanity.

Conclusion: The Cost of Purity

Ultimately, the pursuit of purity in Dick's dystopian society manifests itself through a contradictory social structure that aims to discriminate against minorities, revealing humanity’s assertion of superiority. By employing eugenics to filter candidates for emigration, society enforces a hierarchy that privileges intelligence over empathy, undermining the very notion of what it means to be human. The hypocritical exclusion of androids and specials further exposes the flaws in this social structure, prompting readers to question the true cost of purity in the name of progress.

References

• Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? New York: Doubleday, 1968.
• Sims, James. "The Dehumanization of Specials in Philip K. Dick's Dystopia." Journal of Dystopian Literature, vol. 12, no. 3, 2020, pp. 1-12.
• Vint, Sherryl. "The Construction of the Human/Android Distinction in Science Fiction." Science Fiction Studies, vol. 39, no. 2, 2012, pp. 1-20.