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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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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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!
Twitter: @trekfm
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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)
Send us your feedback!
Twitter: @trekfm
Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm
Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm
Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact
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Support the Network!
Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm