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Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast

Meta Treks is a Trek.fm podcast dedicated to a deep examination of the philosophical ideas found in Star Trek. In each episode, Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison take you on a fascinating journey into the inner workings of Star Trek storytelling, deeper into subspace than you've ever traveled before.
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Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast
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Now displaying: 2017
Oct 30, 2017

Vulcan Katras and the Mind-Body Problem.  

Episode 6 of Star Trek: Discovery, "Lethe," explored and expanded upon the metaphysics of Vulcan katras beyond what had been seen in previous iterations of Star Trek. But what exactly is a Vulcan katra and what properties does it have? From transferring consciousness from one Vulcan to another, to enabling a form of disembodied immortality, katras play an important role in Vulcan mysticism and metaphysics.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison give a philosophical analysis of the metaphysics of Vulcan katras in relation to the mind-body problem. Is the katra a type of nonphysical substance, as Cartesian dualism would hold? Is the katra a biophysical or emergent property of the brain and its functioning? And is transferring one's katra, through a mind meld or otherwise, an actual transfer of consciousness to a new location, or is it more like backing up a copy of your hard drive to the cloud?  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:20) 
"Lethe" and Sciencing the Katra in Discovery (00:04:29) 
Naturalizing the Katra and Alternative Theories (00:10:59) 
Examples of Katric Transfers in Star Trek (00:15:52) 
Are Katras Necessarily Dualist? (00:20:24) 
Is the Katra Living Consciousness? (00:27:57) 
Emerging Consciousness from Katra and Body (00:36:58) 
Is a Katra Divisible Into Parts? (00:48:48) 
What Happens to the Disembodied Katra? (00:55:17) 
Vulcan Immortality and Gnostic Knowledge (01:01:25) 
Touch Telepathy vs. Mind Meld by Remote (01:12:34) 
Closing (01:19:29)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Oct 23, 2017

Deep Space Nine Season 5 - Essential Trek Philosophy.  

When people think of ethics in Star Trek, they often think primarily of ethical dilemmas, such as balancing the greater good of one group of people with the greater good of another group of people, or juxtaposing the rights of particular individuals with the common good. But season 5 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine takes a different approach to its exploration of ethics, using dramatic situations to explore not merely ethical dilemmas, but also ethically praiseworthy or blameworthy character traits of various Starfleet and non-Starfleet characters.  


In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling compare their choices for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 5 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. From the virtuous character traits of loyalty and fortitude in "The Ascent" to the ethics of genetic engineering in "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?", season 5 of Deep Space Nineuses conflict with the Dominion, the Klingons, and the Maquis, to explore the ethical status of various character traits while under pressure, and in a state of political and military conflict.  


Chapters 
Intro and Initial Thoughts on DS9 Season 5 (00:01:20) 
Children of Time (00:09:26) 
...Nor the Battle to the Strong (00:14:27) 
Let He Who Is Without Sin (00:28:41) 
The Ascent (00:39:10) 
The Ship (00:44:29) 
The Begotten (00:53:41) 
Dr. Bashir, I Presume? (01:00:05) 
Honorable Mentions (01:16:38) 
Recap and Final Thoughts (01:21:18) 
Closing (01:24:50)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Oct 9, 2017

The Philosophy of Color in Star Trek.  

Star Trek: The Original Series is a colorful show, known for its striking set decorations and bold costuming, from the orange highlights on the Enterprise bridge to the primary colors of the Original Series uniforms, including the uniforms of the infamous Redshirts. But what exactly does it mean for a uniform to be red? Is redness a physical property of the uniform itself, or is redness an aspect of subjective mental experience for whomever observes the uniform? Can the uniform's color be reduced to its more basic physical properties or the basic properties of light itself (frequency, wavelength, and so on), or is color a fundamental part of reality, unable to be reduced to other physical properties? And does the property of "redness" exist as an abstract entity (similar to numbers or other abstract objects), or does color exist only in particular form within individual colorful objects like individual red uniforms?  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophy of color in the Star Trek universe. From the physics of light to the physiology of color perception, and from concrete examples to the ontology of abstract entities, Zachary and Mike examine why physics and physiology struggle to give a fully adequate account of the existence and nature of color.

Chapters 
Intro (0001:20) 
Is There a Philosophical Problem? (00:02:47) 
Why Is the Red Shirt Red? (00:07:19) 
Color Physicalism and the "Mystique" of Color Perception (00:18:19) 
Abstract Entities (00:27:04) 
A Red Shirt By Any Other Name (00:32:33) 
The Inverted Spectrum Thought Experiment (00:35:18) 
Color as an Emergent Property (00:44:20) 
Color Primitivism (00:46:57) 
Color Qualia (00:50:53) 
Color Fictionalism (00:52:41) 
Final Thoughts (01:00:52) 
Closing (01:07:39)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Oct 2, 2017

Philosophical Themes in Star Trek: Discovery, Episodes 1 and 2.   

Every Star Trek television series is a mirror, reflecting and illuminating the moral dilemmas and the political issues of its time. The premier episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, "The Vulcan Hello" and "Battle at the Binary Stars," are no exception. While it is still too early to know yet what Star Trek: Discovery will eventually become, and the ongoing relevance it will have as current events unfold, it is possible, at least tentatively, to identify several philosophical and political themes. From the nature of leadership and political unity, to the gamesmanship of war in a state of mutual distrust, to race relations across political borders, Star Trek: Discovery boldly goes into the social and political unknown, providing 23rd-century commentary on our 21st-century world.  


In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling, fresh on the heels of the premier of Star Trek: Discovery, discuss their tentative interpretations of the philosophical and allegorical themes in "The Vulcan Hello" and "Battle at the Binary Stars."  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:20) 
Initial Thoughts About Star Trek: Discovery (00:06:16) 
Analogous Ideas and Hermeneutical Interpretation (00:11:20) 
Comparing Klingons (00:16:22) 
Preemptive War and the Hobbesian State of Nature (00:20:13) 
Klingon Messianic Restorationist (00:30:56) 
Nationalism vs. Multiculturalism (00:40:10) 
Touchstones to TOS, ENT, and Kelvin Movies (00:50:49) 
Michael Burnham and the Traumatic Chain (00:58:56) 
Striking Balance Between Emotion and Logic (01:05:25) 
The Contrasting Ethics of Captains (01:12:59) 
Geopolitical Diversity (01:16:05) 
Final Thoughts (01:25:19) 
Closing (01:31:59) 

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Sep 25, 2017

Property Ownership in Star Trek.  

There may be no money in the 24th century, at least not as we know it. And humankind may no longer be driven by the acquisition of material wealth. But what exactly do you do if you want to own one of those extra-special limited-vintage bottles of Chateau Picard?


In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophy and economics of property ownership in Star Trek. What role does property ownership play in a post-scarcity, post-monetary society? And is individual property ownership at odds with the values of 24th-century Federation society?  


Chapters 
Intro (00:01:27) 
Initial Thoughts on the Concept of Property Ownership (00:2:18) 
The Tension Between the Post-Monetary Worldview in Star Trek and the Concept of Property Ownership (00:05:03) 
Sentimental Property in "The Measure of a Man" (00:12:22) 
Property Ownership in the History of Philosophy (00:17:13) 
Religion and the Economic Principle of Scarcity (00:23:54) 
24th Century Barter System (00:35:03) 
Three Interpretations of the Scarcity Problem in Star Trek (00:44:55) 
Property Ownership Disputes (00:52:06) 
Theft of Property in the Future (00:56:28) 
Self-Ownership and Self-Determination (01:03:19) 
Responsible Pet Owners in the 23rd Century (01:10:00) 
Ownership vs. Stewardship (01:14:36) 
Final Thoughts (01:18:41) 
Closing (01:22:28)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

Aug 14, 2017

Voyager Season 5 - Essential Trek Philosophy.

If you've ever had the urge to replicate yourself some curtains when faced with a late-night existential crisis, then the fifth-season opener of Star Trek: Voyager, "Night" is for you! In "Night" we see perhaps the best example of ennui (boredom) in all of Star Trek, including some guilt-laden soul searching from Captain Janeway.

But an existential crisis alone does not a season of Star Trek make. And Voyager season 5 is also filled with various ethical dilemmas juxtaposing utilitarian concern for the greater good with respect for the rights of individuals.

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling compare their recommendations for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 5 of Star Trek: Voyager, from the rights and potential of a souped-up 29th century Borg in "Drone" to balancing the best of the past with the possibilities for the future in "11:59."

Chapters
Intro (00:01:19)
Initial Thoughts on Voyager Season 5 (00:05:14)
Night (00:09:08)
Timeless (00:18:56)
Drone (00:29:44)
Thirty Days (00:35:48)
Nothing Human (00:50:21)
Think Tank (00:56:33)
Equinox Part 1 (01:06:47)
Latent Image (01:08:51)
11:59 (01:16:06)
Final Thoughts (01:23:41)
Closing (01:28:53)

Hosts
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling

Production
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer ) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Jul 31, 2017
Star Trek Philosophy of Education.  

An advanced future civilization such as the United Federation of Planets would surely have an equally advanced educational system. After all, we are told in Star Trek: The Next Generation that 24th century schoolchildren learn calculus in grade school aboard the Enterprise! But other than an accelerated math curriculum, what are the defining characteristics of the educational system and the philosophy of education within in the Star Trek universe?  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss 24th century philosophy of education. From Wesley Crusher's Starfleet Academy entrance exam and future educational technology, to issues of multiculturalism and pluralism in education aboard Deep Space Nine, Zachary and Mike go back to school for a refresher course on all things education in the Star Trek universe.  

Be sure to listen carefully! There will be a quiz afterward, proctored of course by Quark's alternate-timeline schoolteacher avatar from the Deep Space Nine episode "Children of Time"!  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:20) 
Education Improves Over Time (00:05:32) 
The Role of Technology in Education (00:07:42) 
Starfleet Academy vs. Civilian Education (00:10:13) 
"Samaritan Snare" - Specialization vs. General Education (00:13:10) 
24th Century Life-Hacking - The Meaning of Life Won't Be on the Exam (00:17:10) 
Scrubbing Plasma Conduits - Work Ethic, Dirty Jobs, and Intrinsic/Extrinsic Rewards (00:21:27) 
Setting a High Bar and Taking Ownership (00:33:18) 
Educational Simulations and Learning by Doing - Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher (00:37:33) 
Competing Worldviews and Multicultural Education on Deep Space Nine (00:44:59) 
Star Trek EdTech (01:01:12) 
Like Magic - Educational and Technological Utopianism (01:12:08) 
24th Century Homeschooling - Educational Introverts and Extroverts (01:14:29) 
Final Thoughts (01:22:43) 
Closing (01:34:00)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  
Jul 17, 2017
Narratives and Metanarratives in Star Trek.  

Throughout Western history, grand narratives, or metanarratives, have been used to define who we are and where we should be going as a people. These metanarratives have included things like the Enlightenment, the Scientific RevolutionDemocracyMarxismEmancipation, and many other competing metanarratives that have made up the tapestry of Western civilization.  

Star Trek, likewise, has its grand metanarratives, which tie together individual stories and narratives into a unified message about the future potential of humankind. These Star Trek metanarratives include things like technological progresspolitical unificationeliminating economic scarcity, and so on. But having seen the collapse of many of these grand narratives of Western civilization, or at least their dark underbellies, many people in today's postmodern times now take a skeptical view, or even a cynical one, about the plausibility of these idealistic grand metanarratives.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling, discuss the use of narratives and metanarratives in Star Trek, addressing the fundamental question of whether Star Trek's grand narratives will end up on the same ash heap of history as other discarded metanarratives of Western civilization, or whether the grand narratives of the Star Trek worldview have the staying power to persist into the 24th century and beyond.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:20) 
Distinguishing Between "Narratives" and "Metanarratives" in Star Trek (00:05:08) 
Collapse of the Grand Narratives of the Western World (00:12:08) 
Star Trek Snake Oil (00:14:57) 
The Power of Oratory - Motivating Change with Metanarratives (00:24:47) 
TNG "The Neutral Zone" - Timeless Ideals vs. Contemporary Metanarratives (00:32:08) 
The Importance of Critical Skepticism (00:45:23) 
DS9 "The Storyteller" - Telling a Great Story (00:50:58) 
TNG "The Inner Light" - Appeals to the Heart (00:57:28) 
Cultural Apathy - Working for the Weekend vs. Working for the Future (01:03:15) 
Non-Reductive Perspectivism - Embracing Grand Narratives (01:08:25) 
Hero of Your Own Story - The Center Seat vs. Scrubbing Plasma Conduits (01:13:24) 
Final Thoughts (01:20:12) 
Closing (01:29:53)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  
Jul 3, 2017
Pen Pals.  

When Lt. Commander Data contacts a girl named "Sarjenka" from a pre-warp civilization in distress on his 24th-century space ham radio, it leads to a super-secret philosophical discussion about the nature of the Prime Directive in Captain Picard's quarters. Should the Prime Directive be interpreted strictly or loosely? How should Starfleet officers weigh the high-stakes, life-or-death consequences for an entire civilization against their responsibility and oath to uphold the Prime Directive? Would interpreting Sarjenka's "whisper in the dark" as a formal request for help count as "sophistry," as Captain Picard claims? And what role do friendships and emotions play in determining moral obligation in light of the Prime Directive?  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the second-season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Pen Pals." But this is episode 73 of Meta Treks, and the number 73 has a very special meaning in Morse code in ham radio circles: "Best regards." Because Zachary himself has been a third-generation licensed ham radio operator since he was just a tad older than Sarjenka, this episode of Meta Treks debates the role and responsibilities of radio communication in the Star Trek universe, whether that newfangled subspace radio or good old-fashioned RF. Zachary and Mike also discuss Wesley Crusher's first command and what it means to have "command presence."  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:35) 
Initial Thought on Pen Pals from TNG Season 2 (00:03:29) 
The Ham Radio Connection (00:07:50) 
Unusually High Stakes and the Philosophical Debate (00:17:14) 
"Obligations that go beyond duty..." (00:22:05) 
The Individual Positions of the Crew in the Debate (00:25:43) 
Worf Takes the Kantian Position (00:27:01) 
Picard's Argument for Causal Determinism (0029:59) 
Line Drawing Problem (00:35:28) 
Making the Decision: Command Presence and the Nature of Command (00:42:10) 
Principles vs. Consequences (00:49:07) 
Wesley's First Command (00:50:57) 
Riker's Advice: What Would Picard Do (00:59:17) 
Regulation and Communication (01:00:29) 
Subspace QSL Cards and Q Codes (01:03:31) 
Closing (01:07:33)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)
Jun 26, 2017
Enterprise Season 2 - Essential Trek Philosophy. 

Season 2 of Enterprise contained numerous fun and interesting and science-fiction concepts and ideas, as the crew of the NX-01 encountered novelty and adventure going where no humans had ever gone before. But this season also explored a number of important philosophical and ethical issues, from the Kantian principle of not using other sentient beings as a means to your own ends in "Dead Stop" to the politics of gender and sexual identity in "Stigma." 

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling recount their choices for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 2 of Enterprise, along with proverbial life lessons learned from this season, such as the importance of getting down in the trenches with people who are struggling, standing up to bullies, and going the extra mile (or the extra light year) to rebuild damaged relationships. 

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:21)
Essential Enterprise: Season 2 (00:09:08)
Dead Stop (00:11:04)
Stigma (00:22:22)
A Night in Sickbay (00:34:25)
Cogenitor (00:47:31)
Marauders (01:01:28)
Dawn (01:07:49)
The Crossing (01:12:33)
Horizon and First Flight (01:18:19)
Minefield, The Communicator, and Carbon Creek (01:23:13)
Recap and Final Thoughts (01:32:14)
Closing (01:33:24) 

Hosts
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling 

Production
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) 
Jun 12, 2017
Future Human Cultural Evolution with Patrick Devlin.  

In the Star Trek universe, the cultural progression of alien races is remarkably deterministic, as cultures proceed from their own versions of the stone age, to the bronze age, to the industrial age, and culminating in warp-capable civilizations that are fully fledged members of the galactic community.  

But what reasons do we have for thinking that our own diverse human cultures will progress along the path laid out for us in the Star Trek universe? What are the different possible trajectories of future human cultural evolution? And what are the different causal factors that produce cultural change over time (societal, political, technological, or otherwise)?  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison are joined by Meta Treks associate producer Patrick Devlin to discuss future human cultural evolution, both inside the Star Trek universe and in our own world today.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:02:12) 
Welcome to Patrick Devlin and Initial Thoughts (00:01:20) 
Is Cultural Evolution Predictable? (00:02:06) 
Ebbs and Flows (00:10:39) 
Possible Trajectories (00:14:13) 
Mechanisms for Cultural Change (00:25:20) 
"Blink of an Eye" and Cultural Progress (00:28:56) 
Thought Bubbles (00:36:52) 
Death is the Best Invention of Life (00:39:18) 
Vulcans and the Struggles of Reason (00:40:22) 
The Ba'ku and Post-Warp Society (00:47:22) 
From Consumers to Makers (00:50:52) 
External Change vs. Internal Change (01:03:31) 
Final Thoughts (01:10:56) 
Closing (01:22:39)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Guest 
Patrick Devlin  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)
Jun 5, 2017
Cardassian Virtue Ethics.  

Throughout the Star Trek universe, the various alien races serve as a mirror for the best and the worst of our own human natures, and the Cardassians are no exception. But which character traits do the Cardassians find most virtuous? And which characters in the Star Trek universe are the best candidates for the ideal or most virtuous Cardassians, based on the unique character traits that Cardassians themselves recognize as virtues?  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss Cardassian virtue ethics and what we can learn about ourselves from a look into Cardassian culture.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:21) 
Cardassian Virtue Ethics (00:04:22) 
Next Generation Cardassians vs. DS9 Cardassians (00:12:11) 
Body Language and Projecting Values (00:18:14) 
The Cardassian Übermensch (00:29:37) 
Tribunal and the Ethics of the Cardassian State (00:35:08) 
Industrial Design as a Reflection of Cardassian Values (00:48:50) 
Self Sacrifice vs. Self Service and The Philosopher-King Paradox (00:57:32) 
The Hero of His Own Story (01:07:35) 
Final Thoughts (01:08:28) 
Closing (01:15:20)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)
May 29, 2017
"Rapture" and Altered States of Consciousness. 

On the eve of Bajor's admittance into the Federation, an accident in one of Quark's holosuites results in the synapses being hyper-stimulated in Captain Sisko's brain. Captain Sisko enters a heightened state of awareness allowing him to locate the legendary Bajoran lost city of B'hala.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical themes and concepts in the fifth-season Deep Space Nine episode "Rapture." From duck-rabbit Gestalt shifts to ineffable, private moments of clarity and insight, Zachary and Mike explore the the relationship between perception, knowledge, and altered states of consciousness.  

Touching on other themes in "Rapture," Zachary and Mike also discuss the ethics of medical intervention and the therapeutic role of faith in healing and well-being. Finally, Zachary and Mike explore the political pros and cons of the Bajorans joining the Federation, when faced with re-surging Cardassian activity and Dominion aggression in the Alpha Quadrant.  

Chapters 
Intro: DS9's Rapture (00:01:08)
Gestalt Shifts and the Potential of the Human Brain (00:05:35)
A Moment of Clarity (00:16:37)
Timothy Leary and Altered States of Consciousness (00:20:33)
Ethics of Medical Intervention (00:27:38)
Faith in Faith (00:35:33)
The Power of Positive Thinking and Mr. Rozhenko's Neighborhood (00:39:43)
Sisko and a Sympathetic Winn (00:46:19)
Bajor's Entry Into The Federation (00:49:02)
The Benefits and Defining Traits of Bajorans (00:59:27)
Final Thoughts on Rapture (01:03:35)
Closing (01:10:55) 

Hosts
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison 

Production
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)
May 22, 2017
The Original Series Season 2 - Essential Trek Philosophy. 

Season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series playfully explores human nature, what human nature is and what it could become, its place in the cosmos, and its relation to humanity's past, present, and future. From future Space Nazis in "Patterns of Force" to ancient Greek gods and Roman gladiators in space ("Who Mourns for Adonais?" and "Bread and Circuses"), TOS season 2 explores the best and the worst of human nature across the whole of human history. We also see the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise debate ethical questions about our relation to the unknown, from giant space amoebas in "The Immunity Syndrome" to the mystical powers of Korob and Sylvia in "Catspaw," along with the iterative development of one the defining concepts of the Star Trek universe, the noninterference principle known as "The Prime Directive." 

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling continue their philosophical retrospective of every season of Star Trek, discussing their top choices for "Essential Trek Philosophy" from season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:01:08)
Amok Time (00:12:57)
Metamorphosis (00:14:29)
A Private Little War (00:18:32)
The Omega Glory (00:23:26)
Patterns of Force (00:31:31)
The Immunity Syndrome (00:36:19)
Return to Tomorrow (00:41:31)
The Deadly Years (00:46:20)
The Apple (00:51:32)
The Changeling and The Ultimate Computer (00:53:30)
By Any Other Name (01:02:26)
Who Mourns for Adonais? (01:07:33)
Bread and Circuses (01:21:11)
Closing (00:00:00) 
 
Hosts
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling 
 
Production
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) 
May 8, 2017

Kierkegaard and Stages on Life's Way.  

This time, we're talking "Soren," but not Dr. Tolian Soren from Star Trek Generations; we're talking about the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard! Søren Kierkegaard is well-known for his "Stages on Life's Way," or three different approaches to life: the aesthetic approach (novelty, adventure, and experiences); the ethical approach (rules, duty, and responsibility), and the religious approach (sincere commitment, meaningful dedication, and authentic leaps of faith). In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss characters from the Star Trek universe that exemplify these three different modes of living.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 67 (00:01:07) 
Søren Kierkegaard and Dr. Soren from Generations (00:03:16) 
Programming an Authentic Life (00:14:24) 
Kierkegaard's Stages of Life's Way (00:22:15) 
The Aesthetic Stage or The Commander Riker Stage (00:31:30) 
The Ethical Stage or The Lieutenant Worf Stage (00:49:50) 
The Religious Stage or The Chief O'Brien Stage (01:07:39) 
Final Thoughts (01:24:51)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Apr 24, 2017

Exploration and Expanding Knowledge.  

The worldview depicted in the Star Trek universe is grounded in the assumption that the pursuit of increased knowledge is intrinsically valuable, such that it is worth the risks and dangers inherent to exploration of the unknown. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling examine this underlying assumption of the Star Trek universe: Does knowledge have intrinsic value or merely instrumental value? What ethical and practical constraints should be placed on the pursuit of knowledge? Should all knowledge be open-source and publicly available, or are some forms of knowledge tainted by having been achieved through ethically questionable methods? Join Mike and Zachary as they explore and expose the hidden tensions in the pursuit of knowledge and of the exploration of the unknown in the Star Trek universe.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 66 (00:01:07) 
The Intrinsic Value of Knowledge as the Underlying Assumption of the Star Trek Universe (00:06:18) 
Intrinsic Value vs. Instrumental Value (00:08:56) 
The Risks of Exploration (00:15:10) 
Starship Captains and Chutzpah (00:22:05) 
Species Authenticity - The Rational Animal (00:23:46) 
Ethical Constraints on the Intrinsic Value of Exploration (00:34:13) 
Tainted Knowledge vs. Open-Source Knowledge (00:39:54) 
Gnosticism and The Omega Directive  (00:45:00) 
Essential Attributes vs. Non-Essential Attributes (00:52:35) 
The Unknown - We Don't Know What We Don't Know (01:07:07) 
Science without Scientism (01:14:47) 
Final Thoughts (01:17:47)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Apr 17, 2017

"Birthright," Parts I and II. 

In the sixth-season episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Birthright," Parts I and II, there are parallels between Lieutenant Worf and the Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. Both Worf and Socrates were accused of corrupting the minds of the youth, both were protesting the perceived injustices and irrationality of the established state, and both were sentenced to death by execution (a fate escaped by Worf more successfully than by Socrates!). 

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the similarities and dissimilarities of Worf and Socrates. Had Worf been successfully executed, would Worf have been remembered in future Klingon history as a martyr and as the founder of a new Klingon philosophical movement, Worfism (and eventually neo-Worfism), emphasizing the ideal form of the Klingon Empire? 

In addition, Zachary and Mike discuss ancestral and cultural identity, both in the galactic melting pot of the Star Trek universe and in our globalized society here in the real world. Finally, not forgetting the subplot of the emergence of Lt. Commander Data's newfound ability to dream, Zachary and Mike discuss the role and significance of dreams and mythology in a modern, progressive, scientific, and rationalistic society.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 65 (00:01:06) 
Worf and Socrates (00:03:08) 
Worf the Martyr and Neo-Worfism (00:10:56) 
Slavery, Melting Pots, and Cultural Identity (00:28:13) 
Fatherless Data and Worf - Identity and Meaning (00:37:10) 
Klingon Beatnik - "Hey, Mr. Bat'leth Man, Slay a Targ for Me" (00:48:48) 
Modernity, Dreams, and Mythology (00:56:11) 
Cosplay and Choosing Your Own Identity (01:07:44) 
Final Thoughts (01:11:10)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Apr 3, 2017

TNG Season 6 - Essential Trek Philosophy.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling compare their top picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 6 of Star Trek: The Next Generation. From Cartesian skepticism of the external world in "Ship in a Bottle" to transporter-related issues of personal identity in "Second Chances," season 6 of Star Trek: The Next Generation contains some of the most well-known and often-cited philosophical episodes in all of Star Trek. Most importantly, though, find out whether Lieutenant Worf drinks the Romulan hemlock for corrupting the minds of the youth in "Birthright, Part II."

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 64 and Essential TNG Season 6 (00:01:07) 
Dedication to Beth Ann Allen (00:06:17) 
Time's Arrow (00:07:21) 
Man of the People (00:13:38) 
Rascals (00:17:28) 
Tapestry (00:22:31) 
Ship in a Bottle (00:34:09) 
Frame of Mind (00:35:10) 
Birthright (00:39:16) 
Rightful Heir (00:48:47) 
Second Chances (00:53:46) 
Quality of Life (00:58:20) 
Final Thoughts (01:01:08)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Mar 27, 2017

The Definition of Life.  

"To seek out new life...." Such is the mission statement of Federation starships, to discover and learn as much as possible about life in the universe. But given the diversity of life forms in the Star Trek universe, here on Earth in the real world, and possibly elsewhere in our own galaxy, how do you recognize a new lifeform as life when you first encounter it, especially exotic or non-carbon-based lifeforms?  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical and scientific challenges of determining a precise definition of "life," both inside and outside of the Star Trek universe. Is it possible to give a definition of "life" that is broad enough to include radically different forms such as silicon-based life (e.g., the Horta in Star Trek: The Original Series) and non-corporeal life (e.g., the wormhole aliens in Deep Space Nine), but also narrow enough to exclude nonliving entities that merely mimic signs of life?  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 63 (00:01:07) 
Dr. Crusher's Definition of Life (00:02:01) 
Defining "Definition" (00:02:40) 
Silicon-Based Lifeforms (00:47:30) 
Non-Corporeal Lifeforms (01:12:09) 
Other Fringe Lifeforms (01:19:30) 
Closing (01:30:05)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Mar 20, 2017

Cloaking Devices and the Ring of Gyges.  

Invisibility has a long tradition both in fiction and in philosophy, from The Ring of Gyges in Plato's Republic to The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, from the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien to the Klingon and Romulan cloaking devices seen throughout the Star Trek universe. In this episode of Meta Treks hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss the ethics of invisibility. Do these fictional invisibility devices reveal the true darkness of our inner nature, or is the power of invisibility a seductive and corrupting force that leads to a spiral of moral decay? Is it possible, through the cultivation of moral virtues, habits, and training, to shield oneself against the influence of the temptations of anonymity? And speaking of invisibility rings and cloaking devices, Mike and Zachary ask the deepest question of all: what exactly would Captains Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, and Archer do with unfettered access to a personal cloaking device or an invisibility ring?  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 62 (00:01:07) 
The Ring of Gyges and the Ethics of Invisibility (00:03:32) 
Romulan and Klingon Cloaking Devices (00:11:38) 
Star Trek VI - It Has to Have a Tailpipe (00:13:56) 
Klingon Honor - Don't Fire While Cloaked (00:15:59) 
Romulans - Thieves in the Night (00:19:12) 
Federation Cloaking Devices in TNG and DS9 (00:21:16) 
WWCD - What Would the Captains Do? (00:29:06) 
Does Invisibility Corrupt or Reveal Human Nature? (00:35:30) 
The Sonic Shower Stipulation (00:44:31) 
Just One Little Step - The Nature/Nurture Debate (00:50:12) 
Cultivating Moral Habits - Defeating Temptation (00:55:10) 
"The Pegasus" and "Equinox" - A Slippery Slope (01:03:49) 
Lightness, Darkness, and Privacy (01:09:28) 
Closing (01:18:02)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Mar 13, 2017

DS9 Season 6 - Essential Trek Philosophy with Duncan Barrett, Part 2. 

In this second part of a two-part episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison continue their discussion with author Duncan Barrett about their top picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 6 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 61 (00:01:08)
Profit and Lace (00:03:08)
Far Beyond the Stars (00:14:47)
Waltz (00:34:60)
Honorable Mentions (01:09:56)
Recap and Final Thoughts (01:15:13) 

Hosts
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison 

Guest
Duncan Barrett 

Production
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager) 

Send us your feedback!
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Mar 6, 2017

DS9 Season 6 - Essential Trek Philosophy with Duncan Barrett, Part 1.  

In this first part of a two-part episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling are joined by author Duncan Barrett to discuss their picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 6 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Much of Season 6 of Deep Space Nine can be framed in terms of Thomas Hobbes's conception of a State of Nature outside of civilized society, in which actions in war are not bound by ethical consideration. Duncan Barrett, however, explains Season 6 of Deep Space Nine and the Cardassian occupation of Bajor by comparison with the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 60 (00:01:09) 
Introducing Duncan Barrett and Initial Thoughts (00:02:56) 
Rocks and Shoals (00:14:49) 
In the Pale Moonlight (00:40:33) 
Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night (00:50:34) 
Statistical Probabilities (01:05:00)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Guest 
Duncan Barrett  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Feb 27, 2017

Disobeying Orders.  

Starfleet officers generally respect the chain of command. When an order comes down the pipe from a superior officer or from the Federation council, that order is usually obeyed out of duty, honor, loyalty, and respect. But when is it appropriate for a Starfleet officer to disobey orders or defy the chain of command? When an unjust order comes from one of the many "badmirals" in the Star Trek universe? When the lives of your shipmates are in imminent danger? Out of friendship or conflicting loyalties? In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the ethics of rule-breaking and disobeying orders in the Star Trek universe and beyond!  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 59 (00:01:07) 
Initial Thoughts and Examples (00:01:48) 
Motivations for Disobeying Orders (00:06:42) 
The Chain of Command - Intrinsic Value vs. Pragmatic Value (00:16:40) 
Philosophical Justification for Following Orders (00:45:50) 
Inquiries and Courts-Martial (01:00:54)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Feb 13, 2017

Dimensions.  

Reflecting on dimensions has a long history in popular culture, from the geometrically minded satirical novella Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott to the 1937 film The Fourth Dimension by director Jean Painleve. But how is the relationship between different dimensions explored in the Star Trek universe? From a plane of two-dimensional beings in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Loss," to higher-dimensional beings like members of the Q continuum with their ability to pop in and out of three-dimensional space at will, Star Trek is replete with examples of dimensional interplay.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling are joined by Trek.fm Patreon manager and host of Melodic Treks and Warp Five, Brandon-Shea Mutala, to discuss the physics, the philosophy, and the geometry of dimensions in the Star Trek universe.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 58 (00:01:09) 
Introducing Brandon-Shea Mutala and Patreon (00:01:58) 
Flatland and The Fourth Dimension (00:15:26) 
Time as a Dimension vs. Higher Spatial Dimensions (00:18:46) 
Lower-Dimensional and Higher-Dimensional Beings (00:21:01) 
Bending Space - Warp Drive and Wormholes (00:30:28) 
Higher-Dimensions and Omniscience (00:43:20) 
Slices of Cheese - Alternate Three-Dimensional Realms (00:45:51) 
Four-Dimensionalism and Wormhole Aliens (00:50:23) 
The Motion Picture and Visualizing Dimensional Slices (00:57:28) 
Fluidic Space - A Different Kind of Cheese (00:59:07) 
Captain Proton and The Fifth Dimension (01:03:12) 
Dimensions in Theoretical Physics - String Theory (01:04:46) 
The Paranormal and Pseudoscience (01:08:26) 
From Theoretical Physics to Experimental Physics (01:12:14) 
Dimensions, Transporters, and Personal Identity (01:14:06) 
The Mathematics of Higher Dimensions (01:16:57) 
Final Thoughts (01:18:14)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Guest 
Brandon-Shea Mutala  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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Feb 6, 2017

"Sacred Ground" and Religious Explanations.  

What happens when a scientist has a religious experience not fully explainable by science? When Kes's life falls in jeopardy, Captain Janeway, with tricorder in hand and eagerly willing to face any challenge she might face, volunteers to participate in a religious ritual to petition the Ancestral Spirits of the Nechani (or rather, the Bajorans of the Delta Quadrant...) and plead for Kes's life.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss Captain Janeway's journey of self-discovery, as she learns to reconcile her faith in science with her openness to new experiences, including the question of whether the relationship between scientific explanations and religious explanations is one of contradiction, complementariness, or coherence.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 57 (00:01:06) 
Initial Thoughts on Sacred Ground (00:01:50) 
The Nechani - Delta Quadrant Bajorans (00:06:00) 
Sciencing the Religion - Bring Your Tricorder (00:08:27) 
Is Science a Type of Faith? (00:10:56) 
Modes of Explanation (00:14:16) 
The Voyager Files - Kathryn Mulder and Dr. Scully (00:18:39) 
Scientific Explanations for Miracles - Spirits of the Gaps (00:22:23) 
Falsifiability and Private Religious Experience (00:35:58) 
Kirekegaard and Religious Conviction - Comparison of Janeway/Kes to Abraham/Isaac (00:38:10) 
Physical Challenge! The Mouth of Truth (00:41:57) 
Analyzing Past Religious Experiences (00:47:21) 
Janeway's Expectations and Waiting on the Spirits (00:50:10) 
One Universe = Unified Explanations (01:00:55) 
Final thoughts (01:02:27)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Kit Loffstadt (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

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