David, by definition.....is a psychopath.
Glenn R
MemberOvomorphMay-13-2017 3:21 AMYes. He is the ultimate psychopath. What is a psychopath? Simply put, a person devoid of any empathy or emotional connection to another human being. Someone who puts their wants and needs before all others regardless of the hurt or damage it may cause.
While they are able to feel love and a deep bond towards certain individuals or groups, they will also compartmentalize their actions and be capable horribly cruel and inhuman behavior if it suits their own ends. They are totally indifferent to the suffering they cause...or even more frighteningly, some of them derive deep pleasure from the suffering they inflict.
The character of David poses an interesting moral question. Any replicant or artificial human that we may someday build would also be, by definition, psychopathic. They would not be human or desire to be one. They would feel no connection. They would not feel anything. Killing someone would present no moral dilemma. The value of any life can only be appreciated by someone who is themself mortal.
Peter Weyland even said it himself when referring to David. "He is unable to appreciate these gifts because that would require the one thing he will never have....a soul."
Prometheus and Alien Covenant are in fact cautionary tales on why we should never build a self aware machine. In fact cinema is full of films warning us of this. Blade Runner, Terminator, Dark Star, Metropolis, Ghost in the Machine, Matrix.....the list goes on.
MuzzleNZ
MemberFacehuggerMay-13-2017 4:02 PMYeah, I'd go sociopath, not quite psychopath. In a way, what David is displaying is a rational purpose with a lack of remorse (ironically, because he is trying to feel something, but doesn't truely understand feelings).
*EDIT* (removed spoiler), He does exhibit and verbalise 'feelings' towards some other entities, and does appear to have a bond with Shaw, so probably doesn't quite reach the threshold of psychopathy.
I think, as you mentioned, all AI have the potential to be sociopathic/psychopathic, however this would be dependent on them losing the directive(s) not to harm humans (such as Ash did and David appears to have).
dk
MemberTrilobiteMay-13-2017 4:09 PMGlenn R- Up voted! It is fascinating to read about diagnosing David's psychological nature! I don't think Freud can really fit in here though.
dk
MemberTrilobiteMay-13-2017 4:12 PMCan we accurately give a psychiatric evaluation (human standards) to androids?
Glenn R
MemberOvomorphMay-14-2017 10:22 PMWell...we can re-frame it like this...If David were human, his behaviour would most definitely be considered psychopathic. I also think that yes, while David is most definitely also a sociopath, his actions further elevate him into the 'Psycho' realm. It almost doesn't matter that he is a 'synthetic' - he is a sentient being with no moral compass and a total disregard for the value of life, (other than it's use as 'meat' to experiment on).
airshaft_surprise
MemberFacehuggerMay-15-2017 5:57 PMYes, to put it in laymans term david is a meat tray short of a barbecue.
BigDave
MemberDeaconMay-15-2017 7:04 PMTraumatic Events... and a sense of abandonment and rejections and being made feel a Outcast are things that can turn a Sociopath to a Psychopath
I have known such people, who develop some of these symptoms, and personally know someone too who despite having a few other problems... (Autism) they have developed some disturbing thoughts and fetishes and a lot has been molded by mistreatment and feeling worthless and not understanding their Special Needs as a Child...
That has started to have a negative effect...
Indeed looking at David i can see the same kinds of things, from his up-bringing and being looked upon as no being normal... and not like other Humans... and yet wanted to just be accepted and loved... just as the Enchanted Boy Song goes.
He did have a fondness of Shaw... and i have a theory to what happened there... maybe someone will beat me to it ;)
But i like to keep it until after the movie has been out a bit as it would be a Spoiler.
Your Topic breaks not Rules, or well does not contain massive Spoilers.. ish... the potential is there though.. If you are willing to add Potential Spoilers to the Title.... as i dont see the need to change it myself.
Then i would gladly discus my theory ;)
Then i think i will go ahead and make that Topic Tomorrow.
R.I.P Sox 01/01/2006 - 11/10/2017