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)