Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a thought-provoking science fiction film that delves into complex philosophical themes, challenging our understanding of what it means to be human. 

One of the central philosophical questions explored in the film is the nature of consciousness and identity. The replicants in Blade Runner 2049 are bioengineered humans designed for servitude of their human creators. Despite their unnatural creation, they possess natural emotions, memories, and desires, blurring the line between human and not, raising questions about how to define humanity. In these unclear borders, Villenueve asks the watcher whether humanity is defined by consciousness, or if it’s only organic. 

The film also examines the concept of free will. The replicants are programmed to obey their human masters, but some have gone rogue, questioning their predetermined roles and escaping the dogma set upon them. This rebellion forces the watcher to question our own free will: do we have a determined life, or do we have agency to choose our life path? 

At the center of these ideas is Ryan Gosling’s character, Officer K, who is a Blade Runner, a replicant tasked with hunting down rogue replicants and killing them. Throughout the movie we are reminded, by replicants that he hunts, and by his boss that K is not a human. Despite these verbal assertions, it is clear that K represents humanism as a being with complex emotions and a strong moral compass. During his journey, K begins to believe that he isn’t truly a replicant, challenging the idea that humanity can only come from nature. This is best exemplified through his relationship with his artificial girlfriend Joi, a hologram who is programmed to be a romantic partner, yet whose relationship with K feels genuine— inviting the viewers to question the boundaries of true emotion and connection. 

Additionally, K’s quest to discover the truth behind his creation, with his revelation that he might actually be human adds new layers to his character. His own search for truth is a metaphor for our own search for self-identity and authenticity in the real world. When searching for the truth, K abandoned his deterministic life working for human bosses, finding his own agency and free will, highlighting the film's themes of authenticity and choice. 

Blade Runner 2049 is an existential exploration of what it means to be human. The film begs us to question our understanding of free will and consciousness, encouraging us to seek authenticity in our own world as the distinctions between human and artificial begin to narrow.