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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"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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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)
Send us your feedback!
Twitter: @trekfm
Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm
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Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact
Visit the Trek.fm website at http://www.trek.fm/
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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