In Philip K. Dick’s novel, “Do Andriods Dream of Electric Sheep” (the book on which the film “Blade Runner” was based), technology has advanced to the point that humans can build very realistic-looking (and acting) synthetic animals and androids.  Some of the androids escape and walk among the human population undetected, which is against the law.  The main character, Rick Deckard, is a bounty hunter who is charged with hunting down rogue androids and, um, “retiring” them.

In the novel, the latest and greatest androids are practically indistinguishable from humans in any way.  No white-blooded Data-skin R2-D2 droids here, Deckard is a one-man death panel and has to ensure they are NOT humans before he can, gulp, “retire” them.  Which leads the book to explores the issue: What does it mean to be human?  It drills to the very core of human thoughts, emotions, religion and morality.

Unlike humans, the androids possess no empathic sense.  They have no emotions at all, and some are not even aware they’re NOT human.  This makes for some interesting reading, which is probably one reason why Philip K. Dick’s writings were the basis of Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck and many other films.  He’s got the steak and the sizzle.

So how do you tell if someone has no empathy?  You have them watch something like this and you watch them very carefully for empathetic reactions:

If they didn’t start crying, they’re most likely a robot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZtU676jA_k