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By the end of the story when Roy Batty saves Dekard he appears to have evolved from a heartless single minded killer into something more than just a 'machine', a self-aware empathic 'creature', I wonder if he had a soul? I wonder if any of the replicants have souls?

Ooh, that's a big question - my advice, examine their shoes


Seriously though, as we don't know whether we have souls it seems a bit of a moot point to discuss whether Replicants have them - I mean you can't 'see' Deckard's soul (assuming he's human) and you can't see Roy's soul, so who says either of 'em have got one?

if you mean in a religious aspect, i already asked this question (vaguely) in my "do you believe in God" thread, but i didnt come outright and asked "do robots/reps/AI beings have souls".


...and im still writing that script, by the way. almost finished with it before i go back and revise it.

Depends if u believe that 'humans' have souls and thats down to religious and spiritual belief.I hope we do cause we have to be more than just flesh and bones but i guess only death will show the truth and we all have to die alone.

As for replicants who knows ?

rog

I don't really believe in souls in a religious way. But I don't believe that we're merely flesh and blood either. We have a brain - we may not always use it to its full capabilities, but it's there. I think that this comes close enough to the concept of having a soul. We can feel guilty, be creative, love, hate etc. Brains are not only made for thinking. The major difference is that our brain is bound to die with the rest of our bodies. A drawback I have to live with - or rather, will have to die with.
The problem with both, brains and souls, is that some people seem to lack any trace of it. There are enough people who lack compassion or give in to their primitive instincts, but they are still human beings. Personally, I believe that being human can not be understood when looking at individuals - except in a genetic kind of way. There will always be someone lacking language, compassion, intelligence or showing deviant behaviour. But I find it very dangerous to say that these people may be less human. I guess, as a German I had to learn this lesson.
Taking this lesson from history: In my opinion, humanity can only be seen in society. It hardly matters what an individual may or may not achieve, it is the way society deals with (non)achievement that makes all the difference. From this point of view, it should not make a difference if Roy - or anyone else - really had a 'soul'.
The question is: Would/Should it make any difference whether Roy had a soul or not?

I dont see any evidence of a soul but even if we dont have one the matter we are made of is ETERNAL and cant be destroyed only change form.

the "matter cannot be creator or destroyed" principal, isnt this one of the x(number) laws of physics?

still, what does this have to do with souls? you're talking about physical matter, i think everyone here is under the impression (as well as i) that a soul isnt physical, but a mental/spiritual difference that separates each individual from another. a personality almost, but in more of a religious sense.

We have to be more then just flesh and bones? No we dont.. and thats exactly what we are

"But I don't believe that we're merely flesh and blood either. We have a brain - we may not always use it to its full capabilities, but it's there. I think that this comes close enough to the concept of having a soul."

All animals have brains.. do they also have souls then? No? Why not?
Do you have to be smart to have a soul? Is it based on IQ ?

What about us none-religious people? we lack souls?
If there is such a thing as a soul (and just like santa, there isnt ) it has nothing to do with beeing a beliver or not, i should think.

For me that last scene if one of the best, if not the best in the movie.
Roy forgives Deckard.. for me it says that Roy has a great love for life.
Now Roy has killed a few people.. i sense that at the end he realizes how much he loves life, and that he doesnt want to "go" with a murder.. but saves life, saves Deckard.. giving something back to life before he dies...
he gives Deckard what he wants the most... what he cant have for himself.. more life, more time to live... he understands so very well Deckards struggle to hold on, to not die.. the "wanting to live" mentality, struggle for survival... he gives him what he wants for himself, but cant have.

holy crap, you do know about the edit button, dont you? or are you just trying to post more posts to get blade runner status on your name?

I think he was just replying to different posts by others and quoting them one at a time...I don't think there is a better way to do it.

Blade runner status? Yeah.. that must be it, im 12 years old and Blade runner status is sooo "cool"

Ill try to remember to do the edit thing next time, Ridleynoir is right, i just did it the easiest way possible, used to it acctually.

Some very good ideas and opinions were shared here on this topic. My feelings are mutual, in the sense that "all the above" apply.

The soul is the core principle of life. To some it is immaterial, while others consider it possibly material.

It is a matter of perspective. An example, that relates to the topic, being that life feeding off of life should not be looked at as parasitical or cancerous or distructive. It should be looked at for what it truely is. A "coming together", a "reunion". As stated in previous posts, "matter ... is ETERNAL and can't be destroyed, only change form." Interesting to note too what Luba wrote regarding brains and souls. There is a book by Francis Crick titled "The Astonishing Hypothesis" with the subtitle, "The scientific search for the soul". Crick holds the position that one can learn everything knowable about the human soul by studying the workings of the human brain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Astonishing_Hypothesis). More can be shared on this subtopic...but returning to the topic at hand...do replicants have souls? Souls (in general) in the "religious" sense I would have to say no. God(s) did not create replicants. If soul is to be construed as an "energy" or "life force" then one could say yes.

Very interesting topic indeed.

Cheers!