The Problem of the External World.
How can you know that the physical world you perceive around you is
real and not an illusion, a dream, or a holodeck simulation? In
this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary
Fruhling debate the philosophical problem of the external world
through the lens of Star Trek. Mike and Zachary discuss whether it
is possible for characters in Star Trek to know for sure that they
are not stuck in a holodeck, in a telepathic projection, or in an
illusion created by a member of the Q Continuum.
Mike and Zachary consider several possible responses to the the
problem of the external world from the history of philosophy,
including Rene Descartes's response to his own radical Cartesian
skepticism, Hilary Putnam's linguistic response to the "Brain in a
Vat" argument, the pragmatic response of rejecting the problem
outright, and George Berkeley's theory of idealism as a middle
ground between skepticism and empirical knowledge of the external
world.
Finally, Mike and Zachary re-imagine these classic philosophical
arguments in Star Trek terms, including what Descartes's
Meditations might have been like if written by the soft
glow of the holodeck grid instead of by candlelight, considering Q
as the omnipotent "evil genius" in Descartes's "Cogito ergo sum"
("I think, therefore, I am") argument, and re-framing Berkeley's
argument for idealism to rely on all-perceiving beings from Star
Trek, such as the Q or the Bajoran prophets.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 10 (00:01:20)
Introduction to the Problem of the External World (00:02:58)
Examples of the Problem in Star Trek (00:12:42)
Cartesian Skepticism (00:27:45)
Hilary Putnam on "Brain in a Vat" (00:48:22)
George Berkeley and Idealism (00:50:56)
The Q Continuum and Skepticism (00:53:46)
Final Thoughts (01:05:59)
The Prime Directive and
"Symbiosis."
In the first-season TNG episode "Symbiosis," Captain Picard cites
the Prime Directive (Starfleet's noninterference policy, General
Order #1) as justification for his solution to the conflict between
the narcotics-peddling Brekkans and the drug-addict
Ornarans. Is the relationship between these two races a
naturally evolved symbiotic relationship protected by the Prime
Directive or a case of morally reprehensible exploitation calling
for active intervention? In this episode of Meta
Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison analyze the
in-universe philosophy behind the Prime Directive, including its
justification and its applicability to the moral dilemma in
"Symbiosis."
In addition to the discussion on the Prime Directive, Zachary and
Mike discuss the drug Felicium (or "happiness pill") in light of
the 1980s "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign, the use of Felicium as
a consequentalist plot device in "Symbiosis," this episode's
post-Capitalist economic message, and the significance of "Ornare"
(Latin) and "Brekka" (Old Norse) as roots of the names of these two
alien races.
This episode also reminds listeners of the Meta Treks iTunes review
content, running though January 15, 2016. And for your post-show
entertainment, Zachary sings his rousing Felicium-themed rendition
of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off."
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 9 (00:01:14)
About the Review Contest (00:02:48)
Beginning the Conversation (00:05:03)
Summary of Symbiosis (00:05:59)
The Prime Directive (00:08:12)
Symbiosis or Exploitation? (00:45:31)
Post-Capitalist Economics (00:57:47)
Final Thoughts (01:10:17)
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The Science/Religion Debate.
Star Trek is often interpreted to have a negative view of religion,
in favor of a humanistic and atheistic vision of the future. In
this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary
Fruhling challenge the typical interpretation of science and
religion in Star Trek, considering both the rationality of
religious belief and also potential issues with the rationality of
scientific reasoning.
Topics in this episode include traditional philosophical arguments
attempting to prove God's existence, the correspondence theory of
truth vs. the coherence theory of truth, logical positivism and the
meaningfulness of religious language, the tentativeness of
scientific conclusions, Thomas Kuhn on paradigm shifts in science,
and the problem of divine action. Mike and Zachary conclude the
discussion by asking what we can learn about divine action and
top-down causation by the movement of matter and antimatter
particles inside the warp core of a starship.
This episode also introduces the Meta Treks review contest, running
between December 15, 2015 and January 15, 2016.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 8 (00:01:06)
Overview of the Topic (00:01:25)
Meta Treks Review Contest (00:11:54)
Discussion Starts (00:14:50)
The Rationality of Religious Belief (00:18:08)
The Correspondence Theory of Truth (00:31:15)
The Irrationality of Science (00:38:10)
Final Thoughts (01:14:55)
Klingon Virtue Ethics.
For Klingons, the key ethical question is whether one's heart is
truly Klingon. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary
Fruhling and Mike Morrison examine "Klingon Virtue Ethics," with
virtue ethics being a distinctive form of ethical theory
emphasizing desirable character traits over individual actions.
Zachary and Mike debate the nature of essential Klingon character
traits such as loyalty, duty, and honor. But unlike humans, who
tend to remain in the middle-ground on many aspects of human
nature, Klingons take their essential virtues and character traits
to extreme levels (not to mention those terrible Klingon table
manners and an endless but life-affirming thirst for blood
wine).
In their discussion, Zachary and Mike cover the Aristotelian notion
of eudaimonia ("happiness," or "living well") and consider what
living well, or rather dying well, means for Klingons. In addition,
Zachary and Mike apply the virtue-theory notion of an "ideal
individual" to the Klingon messianic figure Kahless, the individual
viewed by most Klingons as the ideal Klingon to be emulated and
revered. Finally, Zachary and Mike contrast the highly idealized
(and sometime naive) sense of Klingon virtues embraced by the
character of Worf with the more realistic character traits of other
less-honorable Klingons.
Chapters
Welcome To Episode 7 (00:01:25)
Discussing SacTrek (00:02:48)
Overview of Virtue Ethics (00:11:26)
Traditional Virtue Ethics Theories (00:14:48)
Virtue Ethics In Star Trek (00:16:52)
Discussion of Eudaimonia (00:24:39)
Final Thoughts (01:07:29)
Zach's Recommended Klingon Episodes (01:10:53)
Mike's Recommended Klingon Episodes (01:11:26)
Consequentialism vs. Deontological Ethics.
In the Deep Space Nine episode "In the Pale Moonlight," was
Captain Sisko justified in using less-then-honorable means to bring
the Romulans into the war with the Dominion in order to end the war
and save lives? Or were Sisko's actions unjustified because they
violated universally valid moral rules and principles?
In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary
Fruhling analyze "In the Pale Moonlight" from the contrasting
ethical theories of consequentalist ethics (or utilitarianism) and
deontological ethics (or rule-based ethics). Mike and Zachary
consider the applicability of different forms of consequentialism,
such as Jeremy Bentham's quantitative approach to utilitarianism,
John Start Mill's more qualitative approach to utilitarianism, and
rule utilitarianism as a middle-ground between ethics emphasizing
consequences and ethics emphasizing rules.
This episode of Meta Treks covers the crucial concepts of
deontological/Kantian ethics, such as Kant's Categorical
Imperative, the notion that some actions are intrinsically right or
wrong regardless of consequences, and treating others as ends in
themselves and not merely as means to your own ends. Mike and
Zachary wrap up the conversation with a discussion of whether the
justification for the Prime Directive is chiefly consequentialist
or whether the Prime Directive, as the Federation's highest law or
rule, is grounded in the intrinsic worth of the natural development
of other worlds and cultures.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 6 (00:01:06)
Discussing the CBS Star Trek Announcement (00:02:22)
Introducing the Topic (00:15:10)
Consequentialism (00:16:40)
Example - In The Pale Moonlight (00:19:31)
Utilitarianism (00:32:09)
Deontological Ethics (00:44:00)
Kantian Ethics (00:44:40)
The Categorical Imperative (00:49:00)
The Prime Directive (01:05:38)
Rule Utilitarianism (01:10:05)
Virtue Based Ethics (01:17:46)
Final Thoughts (01:20:06)
Production
Dennis Castello (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)
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Personal Identity.
As characters in Star Trek change over time (think TV Picard versus
Movie Picard), what accounts for the persistence of those
characters' personal identity?
In this episode of Meta Treks, the continuation of a
two-part discussion on the problem of identity in Star Trek, hosts
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison consider various responses to
the problem of personal identity, including John Locke's views on
memory and the continuity of consciousness, David Hume's bundle
theory of the self, and Rene Descartes's views on mind-body dualism
and personal identity.
Zachary and Mike close out their discussion of personal identity by
considering identity issues in alternate timelines, counterfactual
scenarios, and the Mirror Universe. Can David Lewis's possible
worlds interpretation of counterfactuals, along with Saul Kripke's
account of personal names as rigid designators, explain the
identity of Star Trek characters across alternate timelines? Is it
possible to give any account of why Star Trek characters are
somehow connected to their Mirror Universe counterparts? Join
Zachary and Mike as they wrestle with these issues in personal
identity and more, all told through examples taken directly from
the Star Trek universe.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 5 (00:01:06)
Introducing the Topic (00:02:23)
Examples of Personal Identity in Star Trek (00:10:40)
Numerical Identity (00:12:56)
Continuity of Consciousness (00:17:57)
The Bundle Theory (00:26:50)
Dualism (00:34:09)
Alternate Universes (00:52:56)
Names as Rigid Designators (01:00:46)
Final Thoughts (01:11:21)
Production
Dennis Castello (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)
The Problem of Identity.
In this episode of Meta Treks, part one of a two-part
discussion on the problem of identity in Star Trek, hosts Mike
Morrison and Zachary Fruhling consider the metaphysical problem of
identity over time as it applies to inanimate objects. As objects
undergo changes over time, do they remain the same objects or do
they become different objects? Mike and Zachary reinterpret the
classic philosophical example of the Ship of Theseus, in which
components of a ship are replaced one at a time, in Star Trek terms
as the "Starship of Theseus," asking whether the Enterprise remains
the same ship following repairs or a refit.
Mike and Zachary introduce the problem of identity with an overview
of Leibniz's Law and the numerical identity of indiscernible
objects, followed by a discussion of different possible responses
to the problem of identity over time: the continuity-of-change
response, four-dimensionalism and time slices, and Aristotle's four
types of causes (material cause, formal cause, efficient cause, and
final cause).
Chapters
Welcome to Meta Treks 4 (00:01:07)
Introduction to the Topic (00:02:10)
The Ship of Theseus (00:10:18)
The Starship of Theseus (00:13:35)
Resolving the Identity Problem (00:29:17)
Continuity of Changes (00:29:51)
Four Dimensionalism (00:37:18)
Aristotle's Answers (00:46:37)
Final Thoughts (01:00:43)
Hosts
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling
Free Will and Compatibilism.
In this episode of Meta Treks, part two of a two-part
discussion about free will vs. determinism in Star Trek, hosts Mike
Morrison and Zachary Fruhling weigh different possible meanings of
free will as responses to the threat of causal determinism in Star
Trek.
Are Captain Kirk and Captain Archer radically free as
existentialism holds? Is free will an indispensable concept as
pragmatism holds? As Captain Kirk, Captain Sisko, and Captain
Janeway learn to embrace their own unique destinies, do they become
genuine examples of the compatibility of free will and determinism
in Star Trek? And what exactly would Picard do with his
free will if he were stuck in a blue shirt? Hosts Mike Morrison and
Zachary Fruhling wrestle with these philosophical questions and
more, through the lens of Star Trek.
Hosts
Chapters
Welcome (00:01:07)
Discussion Begins (00:04:39)
Brief Recap of Part 1, Determinism (00:04:51)
Principle of Alternate Possibilities (00:08:04)
Existentialist View of Freewill (00:16:51)
Pragmatism (00:32:28)
Compatibilism (00:44:53)
Final Thoughts (01:04:06)
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Free Will vs. Determinism.
Welcome to the premier episode of Trek.fm's new show about Star Trek and philosophy, Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast. In this episode, part one of a two-part discussion, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison tackle the free will vs. determinism debate by examining different types of determinism within the Star Trek universe: biological determinism, physical determinism, social or cultural determinism, evolutionary determinism, historical determinism, psychological determinism, and theological determinism. After considering these different types of determinism and causal factors, what room is left for free will or personal agency in the Star Trek universe?
Chapters
Introducing the Show (00:00:00)
Definitions and Distinctions (00:09:43)
Why Care About Free Will? (00:10:31)
Hard Determinism (00:11:55)
Biological Determinism (00:17:05)
Physical Determinism (00:25:36)
Cultural Determinism (00:39:37)
Evolutionary Determinism (00:48:59)
Historical Determinism (00:52:12)
Psychological Determinism (00:01:01:31)
Theological Determinism (00:01:06:40)
Final Thoughts (00:01:12:44)
Hosts
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison
Production
Dennis Castello (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive
Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing
(Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Will
Nguyen (Content Manager) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)