Through discussion of the philosophical themes from the course that arise in the movie a better understanding of the relationship between film and philosophy and the various elements that are utilized in the movie to present the implications of these ideas. There are a variety of philosophical themes present in Blade Runner. Questions related to humanity, morality consciousness, and life and death are all explored. These ideas can be understood in relation to philosophers such as Aristotle, Sartre, Heidegger, and Kant, whose positions regarding these aspects of truth can help to provide insight in this regard.
Exploration of the various themes in relation to these philosophical positions will help to establish an understanding of the relationship between these elements. One of the major themes in Blade Runner is the question of what makes a person human. It is very hard within the story to tell whether or not a person is a Replicant or a normal human being. In this sense, self-awareness is also a major question explored in the film. Throughout the movie, Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, continuously questions his own humanity. His memories of the unicorn are juxtaposed with the idea that Replicants dreams can be read.
For Aristotle, the fundamental idea that makes a being human is rationality. This is what separates men from animals. While various individuals throughout the movie seem to present characteristics of rationality, both human and Replicant, there are none that could be said to be entirely irrational int his sense. This can be related to Aristotle's idea of rationality, in which this is a unique characteristic of humanity. Aristotle argued that “rationality is the only feature unique to humanity, but, there exists a uniquely human component within the irrational part of the soul” (Sadler 33). The human character is therefore both deeply rational and subservient to deeper emotions, the result of the soul. What makes the human distinct from other emotional beings, however, is “the part that possesses reason and which thinks discursively” (Sadler 37). In this sense, reason is the only primary human characteristic.
Deckard is a Blade Runner. He is assigned to destroy any rogue Replicants. This seems to be giving him issues due to the fact that these beings are so much like humans. This begins to call into question the underlying nature of humanity. His emotional changes that likely led to his retirement before he is called back at the start of the movie indicate the nature of this line of questioning. This viewpoint establishes the need to consider the emotional capacity of humanity in the context of philosophical insight. This line of questioning is important to regard in relation to the positions that have been presented. Emotion is an underlying facet that can be seen to relate to the human character. It is generally through both emotive and rational responses that the human character can be better understood. These responses should be framed in relation to the obligations that are associated with their perspectives and actions.
Philosophers such as Sartre indicate that emotions are what make a person human. Rachael, Roy, and many of the other Replicants seem to indicate a variety of human characteristics through their emotions and thought processes. These elements are what make them essentially human and dictate the relationship between rational thought and emotion that allows them to overcome their inner beast instincts. For him, a person's character is composed of “that person’s collection of character traits, and these can be defined as relatively stable dispositions to think, feel, and behave in certain ways in certain situations” (Webber 96). The Replicants therefore seem to indicate a need to question the nature of humanity. This nature presents blurred lines that are difficult to overcome in order to understand who is human and who is not within the film.
As he begins to discover himself the Replicants themselves seem to be discovering their own humanity. Knowledge of oneself and self-identification are important themes within the movie. The morality of these individuals killing one another for self-gain is explored as well as the lines between allies and enemies seems to dissolve in the struggle between Deckard and those that he is pursuing. The emotions of the characters represent a specific valuation of the ideas present within this mode of philosophic thought. These emotions present the lines by which the characters can be related to one another. Their various pursuits account for the challenges that they face as well.
The ability to understand one another on an emotional level is therefore important philosophically. For Sartre, “one’s ability to go beyond the situation one finds oneself in is not restricted to the abilities and inclinations embodied in one’s facticity, but involves the freedom to behave in ways other than those recommended by one’s character or essence” (Webber 102). Empathy is portrayed as the primary means by which humans are able to distinguish themselves form the Replicants. However, despite this, many humans throughout the film fail to act in ways that demonstrate that they have these traits. This calls into question the underlying nature of morality.
Whether or not they are right in their actions, as Deckard begins to fall into his relationship with Rachael these questions begin to become more difficult to answer. Despite the human's beliefs, Roy, a Replicant, acts in ways that shows compassion and although he is the primary antagonist to Deckard throughout the film he ends up saving him at the end. The question of how humanity can be maintained despite the growing use and prevalence of technologies in our lives is important. The movie presents a mix of man and machine that seems to transcend the very boundaries of comprehension. The actions of those in the film seem to indicate a strong correspondence with these philosophic principles.
For Heidegger, the human is the individual that strives towards something greater. While all of these individuals are struggling within the backdrop of this dystopian world, they show characteristics of hope or lack thereof. “Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to technology, whether we passionately affirm or deny it” (Heidegger 2). This is interesting because while the humans seem to have lost all hope and exist in a state of hierarchical poverty, the Replicants themselves are searching for a higher level of hope, striving for a level of freedom within this world. This seems to juxtapose what would traditionally be considered human and automaton. In this regard, the Replicants seem to be more human than the actual people that created them.
Heidegger further challenges the view that is maintained regarding the emotional characteristics of these ideas. He argues that “in our sheer preoccupation with technology we do not yet experience the coming to presence of technology” (Heidegger 19). The level of poverty that is shown throughout the movie is also relevant in this regard. There are a variety of areas in which the basic humanity of civilization seems to be lost and the growing technology was achieved at the expense of the individual well-being of a variety of people. The dark and industrial landscape depicted in the movie portrays a world overcome by the ravages of technical change and resource depletion. This presents a relationship between the growth of human industry and the very foundations of what it means to be human. The challenge is to establish a perspective that can maintain the prospect for a better future.
For Kant, it was important to only treat people as ends in themselves and never as a means to the end. The way that humanity treats Replicants, as slaves that they have created to work, and those that they assassinate they do so without regard. His theories demonstrate “a deep connection between dignity and moral obligation” (Kain 5). The duty of humanity is to abide by moral virtue. This virtue is related to the ability to maintain logic and reason in the face of these challenges. He viewed the relationship between moral authority and consideration of these circumstances was based on the capacity of humanity to understand their obligatory actions. He argued that “experience and the biological, psychological, and anthropological theories, concepts, and judgments, through which we make systematic sense of the objects we are given in experience, must play a significant role in helping to determine in a naturalistically respectable way which objects of experience should be considered to be the presentation of the relevant kinds of predispositions” (Kain 6). In relating this idea to the movie, it seems that there are a variety of characteristics that present these dispositions.
Blade Runner can therefore be seen to reflect a variety of philosophic ideas. In relation to the established doctrines of these thinkers it is important to consider the underlying characteristics of humanity and to present the veracity of these ideas to a more thorough understanding of human nature. The Replicants call into question the underlying nature of consciousness and human desire while the state of humanity seems to indicate the basic viewpoint by which these relationships can be juxtaposed with the ideas of human nature that have been presented by philosophers throughout history.
Works Cited
Blade Runner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos. Warner Bros, 1982. Film.
Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology. Technology Studies. 3-35. 1977. Print. Kain, Patrick. Duties Regarding Animals. Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals: A Critical Guide. ed. Lara Denis. Cambridge University Press.
Sadler, Greg. Aristotle’s Psychology, Emotion’s Rationality, and Cognition of Being: A Critical Note on Ogren’s Position. Minerva-An Internet Journal of Philosophy. 11. 2007. 30-53. Print.
Webber, Jonathan. Sartre's Theory of Character. European Journal of Philosophy 14 (1): 94-116. 2006. Print.
