How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
And the American and Soviet police had publicly stated that Mercerism reduced crime by making citizens more concerned about the plight of their neighbors. Mankind needs more empathy. (7.24)
Turns out, it actually is hard to stab and rob someone when you stop to think about how much it hurts to be stabbed. (That's it: we're officially declaring all stabbers to be androids.)
Quote #5
"It's not just false memory structures," Phil Resch said. "I own an animal; not a false one but the real thing. A squirrel. I love that squirrel, Deckard; […]." (11.52)
Resch's argument for his humanity is that he loves his squirrel, and only a human could have that kind of feeling for a non-human. But we're calling him out here. Everyone loves squirrels. Fact!
Quote #6
Rick said, "There is a defect in your empathic, role-taking ability. One which we don't test for. Your feelings toward androids."
"Of course we don't test for that."
"Maybe we should." He had never thought of it before, had never felt any empathy on his own part toward the androids he killed. (12.95-97)
Here, Rick begins to question how to define true empathy, and this doubt drives his actions for the rest of the novel. Can it really be considered empathy if you can pick and choose what you feel empathy for? Or is empathy an all or nothing proposition? It's kind of like that O-Town song in that it's nothing like that O-Town song.