Can Bionic Dream of an Electronic Sheep? The Study of Man-machine Community in China

Abstract

Philip Dick (1928-1982) was one of the most important American science fiction writers in the 20th century. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Is one of his most important novels. The novel tells the story of the hero Rick in a day to kill several bionic man experienced countless changes, from the beginning of the cold blood exclusive to gradually develop feelings for the robot, admit the story of electronic life. Based on the community theory of Hillis Miller and Luc Nancy, this paper explores the problems of man-machine empathy absence, man-machine symbiosis and harmonious man-machine community in the novel. In the face of an upcoming era of artificial intelligence, this paper puts forward the thinking of how human and machine coexist, and provides the possibility answer for building a harmonious man-machine community. Through the thorough study of the novel, this paper points out that in a space where man and machine coexist, man and machine should not be between master and servant; instead, they are the constitution of each other. Human beings should try to break through the boundary between self and others and look forward to a pluralistic and open community.