Deckard is not a replicant. Scott is the only person who thought so. In the original novel, Deckard is explicitly human, and that is an important point. As well, it makes no sense even in Scott's version...Baty, for instance, would surely have detected Deckard as a replicant. If Deckard is a replicant, the question of "what does it mean to be human" would be meaningless...it loses its poignancy. Deckard's "abuse" of Rachel was a deliberate _ad hoc_ Voight-Kampf test. He's testing whether she will respond defensively like a replicant, and also whether she can respond as a human. What many people miss (I did for many years and viewings) what Roy Baty says in the moment he grasps Deckard's arm to save him. Roy shouts, "Ha! Kinship!" It was in that moment as Deckard's grip slips that Deckard realizes _his time has run out._ It's in that moment he feels the fear that has haunted Baty, and in that moment he and Baty are identical beings.
Deckard is not a replicant. Scott is the only person who thought so. In the original novel, Deckard is explicitly human, and that is an important point. As well, it makes no sense even in Scott's version...Baty, for instance, would surely have detected Deckard as a replicant. If Deckard is a replicant, the question of "what does it mean to be human" would be meaningless...it loses its poignancy.
Deckard's "abuse" of Rachel was a deliberate _ad hoc_ Voight-Kampf test. He's testing whether she will respond defensively like a replicant, and also whether she can respond as a human.
What many people miss (I did for many years and viewings) what Roy Baty says in the moment he grasps Deckard's arm to save him. Roy shouts, "Ha! Kinship!" It was in that moment as Deckard's grip slips that Deckard realizes _his time has run out._ It's in that moment he feels the fear that has haunted Baty, and in that moment he and Baty are identical beings.