In the darkest periods of human history, we consigned some people to be sources of entertainment. The more barbaric of these times, when the Roman empire forced enslaved people to fight for their amusement, is long past. The original Star Trek seemed to love imagining alternate histories for Earth, however implausible they would be on … More The Human Spectacle, TOS: S2E25 “Bread and Circuses”
Artificial intelligence has progressed to a frightening extent since Captain Kirk and crew graced the world’s living rooms in the 1960s. The modern trend of replacing human workers with machines was felt even in a time before cell phones and search algorithms. Technology is already quickly replacing low skilled jobs, with touch screens in restaurants … More The Human Replacement, TOS: S2E24 “The Ultimate Computer”
Exploring the origins of a specific cultural belief often turns into a chicken or egg question. Historians can speculate whether a society adopted a new creed based on the environmental pressures of the time, or if it was a natural progression of their already existing values. The reality is most likely an intricate combination of … More Chicken or Pledge, TOS: S2E23 “The Omega Glory”
The universe is huge, and it is teeming with planets which could potentially harbor life. True, most of these wouldn’t have hospitable conditions, but given the sheer number of planets in the universe, there should be at least a few with alien life. The chances we are alone in the universe is incredibly small, but … More It’s Life Jim, but You Don’t Want to Know It, TOS: S2E22 “By Any Other Name”
If “A Piece of the Action” was a cursory view of cultural contamination, this episode’s adventure is a fully realized infection of the worst disease in philosophy. Much like the mafia planet, the citizens of planet Ekos were introduced to an outside viewpoint by a Starfleet bungle. This time, a historian and cultural observer John … More A Shift in Power, TOS: S2E21 “Patterns of Force”
Kirk and Spock seem to have no shortage of mind-altering adventures, which is reasonable considering one of the final frontiers still beyond our understanding is the mind. If space offers anomalies and aggressive aliens, the human body provides complex mystery and questionable theories. Brushing up against this frontier, Kirk, Spock, and Lt. Cmdr. Mulhall respond … More Brain Drain, TOS: S2E20 “Return to Tomorrow”
With great power comes great…capacity to make things worse. Starfleet wields amazing strength due to its superior weaponry and the governing capability of a united political force. With so much influence, it is not surprising that many powerful organizations find themselves in dilemmas when weaker states look to them for help. Is it immoral to … More Friend of my Enemy, TOS: S2E19 “A Private Little War”
The many possibilities for life often stretch beyond our imaginations. Just when we think we have a basic understanding of how it all works, biology throws a platypus into the mix. From bizarre animal bodies to bacteria surviving under the most inhospitable conditions, life simply pushes against the impossible. However, even with seemingly endless variety, … More The Laws of Existence, TOS: S2E18 “The Immunity Syndrome”
A holy book defines a culture. It provides a basis for what a society values and what it condemns. These ideals also shape how the stories are told, as the listener uses his or her cultural lens to discern the morals hidden in the tale. There are many alien races in the Star Trek universe … More People of the Book, TOS: S2E17 “A Piece of the Action”
We cannot become intelligent beings if we don’t value life. A simpleton lacks empathy, but sensitive, compassionate, and well-rounded people can see themselves in the other. An important step in maturity is the ability to recognize others have needs outside of ourselves. On a larger scale, a certain amount of moral growth prompted our ancestors … More A Mind for Mercy, TOS: S2E16 “The Gamesters of Triskelion”
Hopeless Trekkie 