Vulcan Philosophy and Spinoza.  

Meta Treks hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss aspects of Vulcan philosophy, such as logic and IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations). Zachary and Mike examine the philosophical roots of Vulcan philosophy in the work of the Western rationalist philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Spinoza's greatest work, Ethics, contains many aspects of Vulcan philosophy, such as logical deduction from first principles and axioms, determinism (or faith that the universe will unfold as it should), infinity and diversity within one infinite and unbound substance, and the suppression of harmful emotions. Given the many connections between Vulcan philosophy and Spinoza, Zachary and Mike are left wondering, "How exactly did those first Vulcan visitors to Earth manage to snag a copy of Spinoza's Ethics to take with them back home to Vulcan?"  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 23 (00:1:07) 
IDIC in The Animated Series (00:02:07) 
Vulcan Stoicism (00:03:18) 
Star Trek VI - "Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not its end." (00:06:01) 
Spinoza and Vulcan Philosophy - Vulcan Rationalism (00:08:11) 
Faith that the Universe Will Unfold as it Should (00:15:55) 
Spinoza and Vulcan Philosophy - One Unbound and Infinite Substance (00:18:53) 
Pantheism and Environmentalism (00:22:09) 
Vulcan Diversity (00:24:43) 
IDIC and Deep Interconnectedness (00:27:05) 
Spinoza and Vulcan Philosophy - Suppression of Harmful Emotions (00:29:55) 
Determinism + Logic + IDIC + Suppression of Emotions = Spinoza (00:33:11) 
Leonard Nimoy Narrates the Spinoza's Ethics Audiobook (00:35:37) 
Mind/Body Dual Aspect Theory and Vulcan Touch Telepathy (00:39:10) 
Vulcan Cultural Enlightenment - Taking Spinoza and IDIC Seriously (00:46:33) 
Final Thoughts (01:08:00)  

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) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)  

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Star Trek IV and Environmental Ethics.  

In this episode of Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling explore the issues of animal rights and environmental ethics in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. In the wake of a recent announcement that Sea World is ceasing its captive orca (killer whale) breeding program, Mike and Zachary consider the possible justification for considering whales (and fire ants!) as beings entitled to moral consideration. From whale consciousness and intelligence, to whales' ability to feel pain, to whale pods and the ethics of care, Mike and Zachary have a whale of a time discussing environmental ethics down in Cetacean Ops.

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 22 and Initial Thoughts (00:01:10) 
Changing Sensibilities - Whale Shows and Breeding in Captivity (00:04:56) 
Synopsis of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (00:10:00) 
Whale Consciousness and Intelligence - Kantian Ethics (00:12:22) 
Whale Pain and Pleasure - Utilitarian Ethics (00:22:27) 
Whale Communication - The Turing Test (00:26:43) 
The Environmental Movement and the Biosphere as a Whole (00:35:10) 
Critiquing the Romanticism of Nature (00:42:03) 
The Value of Nature - Intrinsic Value vs. Usefulness for Humans (00:46:12) 
Whale Pods and Care Ethics (00:50:02) 
Animal Ethics and the Burden of Proof (00:52:39) 
Sentimentalism - Warm Fuzzy Whales vs. Fire Ants and Snakes (00:57:29)
Rewriting Star Trek IV - "Save the Fire Ants!" (1:02:48)
Final Thoughts (01:03:24) 

Hosts
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling

Production
Dennis Castello (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Content Manager) Richard Marquez (Production 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
Visit the Trek.fm website at http://www.trek.fm/
Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm

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

Manu Intiraymi.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, we're joined by Manu Intiraymi, also known as "Icheb" on Star Trek: Voyager. Together we talk about Manu's experiences joining the Voyager cast, the role of Icheb in the Voyager family, and the evolution of Icheb's character in the fan film Star Trek: Renegades. We also talk about Manu's latest film project, The Circuit, a multi-genre anthology film starring several Star Trek alumni. We conclude with some philosophical musings on the best and worst of human nature, and with some final thoughts on the differences and similarities between Manu the person and Icheb the fictional character.

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 21 (00:01:10)
Introducing Manu Intiraymi (00:04:10)
A Clint Eastwood Story (00:05:03)
Joining the Voyager Cast (00:07:32)
Icheb and the Voyager Family (00:11:56)
The Meaningfulness of Being in Star Trek (00:18:40)
Character Evolution for Icheb in Renegades (00:25:21)
Future Directions for Star Trek (00:29:40)
The Best and Worst of Human Nature (00:35:44)
The Convention Scene and The Circuit (00:38:28)
Acting vs. Producing (00:47:15)
The Concept of The Circuit (00:51:39)
Following Manu and The Circuit on Social Media (00:59:47)
Final Thoughts - Manu the Person vs. Icheb the Character (01:02:36)

Preemptive War and Star Trek Into Darkness.  

Star Trek has a long tradition of dealing with ethical, social, and political issues in the real world, and Star Trek Into Darkness is no different. One of the most important issues in the world today is how far a society should go to protect itself. What freedoms should we be willing to give up for sake of safety and security? Should a government be allowed to spy on its own citizens? And is it morally and ethically permissible to start a preemptive war with a real or perceived enemy? Star Trek Into Darkness tackles this last question head-on through Admiral Marcus's attempt to start a preemptive war against the Klingons. In this episode of Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling examine the ethical issue of preemptive war as the principle ethical dilemma in Star Trek Into Darkness.  

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 20 (00:01:07)
Preemptive War and Star Trek Into Darkness (00:03:12)
The Portrayal of Khan (00:07:28)
Synopsis of Star Trek Into Darkness (00:09:38)
Star Trek Into Darkness and the Post-9/11 World (00:11:52)
Preemptive War - Consequentialism vs. Care Ethics (00:20:14)
The Trolley Problem, a.k.a. The Shuttlecraft Problem (00:28:27)
Preemptive War and Deontological/Kantian Ethics (00:38:08)
Militarism and Fear of the Klingons (00:40:34)
Final Thoughts (00:53:39)

Hermeneutics in Star Trek.  

Hermeneutics is the art and science of meaning and textual interpretation. In this episode of Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss issues of meaning and interpretation in Star Trek. From how to interpret Bajoran sacred texts and prophecies, to the interpretation of Federation law and Starfleet regulations, to the meaning of the Star Trek franchise itself for us today, Zachary and Mike cover a range of philosophical issues related to meaning in Star Trek, such as: original meaning vs. new interpretations, literal meaning vs. metaphorical meaning, the relationship between interpretation and hierarchical power structures, changes in meaning due to evolving language, and various analytical techniques used in hermeneutics.  

Chapters

Poker, Virtue Ethics, and the Prisoner's Dilemma.  

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, we see a lot of poker: from Commander Riker cleaning house, to Data learning how to bluff, to Geordi claiming not to cheat with his VISOR. But exactly why do we see so much poker in Star Trek? What important character traits or skills does the game of poker help instill in a young Starfleet officer? Can any important lessons in ethics or diplomacy be learned from playing poker? How are those character traits or skills different from those learned from playing other games, such as three-dimensional chess? And how does poker relate to game-like scenarios in ethics, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma? In this episode of Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling tackle the philosophy and ethics of poker aboard the Enterprise-D. From virtue ethics to game theory, Mike and Zachary bluff their way through a discussion of the deeper significance of poker in the Star Trek universe. 

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 18 (00:01:07)
Intro to the Topic (00:01:19)
Meta Treks Reviews on iTunes (00:05:04)
Poker Episodes in Star Trek: The Next Generation (00:08:38)
Virtue Ethics - Does Poker Cultivate Desirable Character Traits? (00:27:15)
Game Theory and the Prisoner's Dilemma (00:46:55)
"Chain of Command" and the Prisoner's Dilemma (00:55:47)
Final Thoughts (01:02:23)

Media Ecology with Dennis Castello. 

In the 24th century, is the holodeck the primary mode of media creation and consumption? And if so, what effect does the holographic medium have on Federation society as a whole? In this episode, Meta Treks editor and producer Dennis Castello joins hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison behind the microphone to discuss the sociological sub-discipline of media ecology. 

Media ecology holds that the different types of media a society consumes influence the behavior of society as a whole. This core idea of media ecology is summed up with the phrase, "The medium is the message." Dennis Castello provides an overview of media ecology and its core concepts, followed by a discussion about the role media ecology can play in analyzing different types of media within the Star Trek universe. 

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 17 (00:01:08)
Introducing Dennis Castello (00:01:44)
Media Ecology - The Medium is the Message (00:05:00)
Changing Media Over Time (00:06:54)
Type of Media - Slow vs. Fast Media (00:08:57)
Societal Trend Towards Faster Media (00:12:41)
Content Consumers and Content Creators (00:14:33)
Cycles of Media Technology - Creativity vs. Norms (00:16:18)
Media Ecology and Photography (00:21:40)
Primary Orality vs. Alphabetic Societies and Abstract Thought (00:27:08)
Is Media Ecology Normative or Descriptive? (00:30:19)
Criticisms of Media Ecology - Technological Determinism (00:33:47)
Changing Media - Political Discourse and Star Trek Discussion (00:35:34)
Media Ecology Inside and Outside the Star Trek Universe (00:44:47)
Holography as the Federation's Dominant Medium (00:46:36)
23rd Century Dashcam? (00:56:22)
"Photons Be Free" and Holographic Rights (01:07:37)
Final Thoughts (01:12:14)

Alternate Realities vs. Alternate Timelines.  

In this episode of Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling have a followup discussion on the distinction between an "alternate reality" and an "alternate timeline" in response to a challenge by Norman Lao and Jeffrey Harlan on their recent episode of Standard Orbit (Standard Orbit 115: "Wibby Wobbly Primey Wimey"). 

Mike and Zachary provide a philosophical analysis of different senses of the terms "alternate reality" and "alternate timeline," while also exploring and contrasting key examples of these senses in Star Trek. Examples covered in this episode of Meta Treks include the prime timeline vs. the Abramsverse timeline, the episodes "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Parallels" from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the Mirror Universe as seen in The Original Series, Deep Space Nine, and Enterprise.

Here is the link to the related episode, Standard Orbit 115 ("Wibbly Wobbly Primey Wimey"): http://trek.fm/standard-orbit/115

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 16 (00:01:07)
Related Episodes of Meta Treks (00:05:18)
Bryan Fuller and Star Trek 2017 (00:07:54)
Initial Thoughts - Alternate Reality vs. Alternate Timeline (00:10:33)
Two Senses of "Alternate Reality" (00:12:25)
Personal Identity and Alternate Realities (00:19:01)
Universe or Multiverse? (00:25:27)
Yesterday's Enterprise (00:26:57)
Two Senses of "Alternate Timeline" (00:28:36) 
Contrasting "Yesterday's Enterprise" with Star Trek 2009 (00:32:34)
Reconciling "Alternate Reality" and "Alternate "Timeline" - A Hybrid Approach (00:34:52)
Four-Dimensionalism and Alternate Timelines (00:38:53)
Does a Common Origin Point Settle the Issue? (00:43:45)
The Origin of the Mirror Universe (00:47:46)
How to Analyze Examples in Star Trek - What Questions to Ask (00:51:33)
Final Thoughts (00:57:40)

The Paradox of the Philosopher King.  

In the third-season TOS episode "Plato's Stepchildren," the Platonians claim to have modeled their society on the ideals of the Greek philosopher Plato. Parmen, the leader of the Platonians, even claims to be a philosopher king as described in Plato's dialog, the Republic. In this episode of Meta Treks, find out what the Plutonians got right and what they got wrong about Plato's philosophy.

Hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss Plato's Paradox of the Philosopher King in "Plato's Stepchildren" and other places in the Star Trek universe, such as: General Martok as leader of the Klingon High Council, Commander Riker as the captain who wouldn't sit down in the Big Chair, Captain Picard as the captain who wouldn't become an admiral (or a badmiral), and Quark's brother Rom as the unlikeliest candidate for Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance. 

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 15 (00:01:07) 
Meta Treks iTunes Reviews (00:02:25) 
The Paradox of the Philosopher King (00:06:56) 
Star Trek and the Ideal Society (00:08:43) 
Not Seeking Power for its Own Sake (00:11:38) 
Philosopher Kings in Star Trek: Martok (00:12:52) 
Captain Picard - Authority from Above or Below (00:15:57) 
Authority and Hierarchy (00:18:25) 
Commander Riker - The Captain Who Wouldn't Sit Down (00:20:24) 
Plato and Forms - Justice in Itself (00:21:48) 
Plato and the Allegory of the Cave (00:29:46) 
Philosopher Kings or Bumbling Fools? (00:35:50) 
Plato's Stepchildren (00:37:22) 
Kirk and Uhura - Social Commentary and Society's Ideals (00:38:39) 
The Platonians - Getting Plato Right and Getting Plato Wrong (00:40:23) 
Rom - The Paradox of the Philanthropist Grand Nagus (01:00:57) 
Final Thoughts (01:05:21) 

"Living Witness" and Historical Evidence. 

Meta Treks hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss historical evidence and the philosophy of history through the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Living Witness." Topics in this episode include weighing competing interpretations of historical evidence, reinterpreting accepted historical accounts, the reliability or unreliability of first-person accounts, uncovering lost or suppressed historical perspectives, historical revisionism vs. historical context, genealogy and reconstructing the past, and the distinction between historical "facts" and historical "meaning."

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 14 (00:01:07)
Synopsis of "Living Witness" (00:08:14)
Historical Evidence and Multiple Interpretations (00:17:33)
Re-interpreting the Accepted Historical Account (00:25:00)
Questioning the Doctor: The Reliability of First-Person Accounts (00:27:53)
Uncovering the Lost Perspectives (00:34:51) 
Historical Revisionism vs. Historical Context (00:36:48)
Genealogy and Reconstructing the Past (00:40:45) 
Two Interpretations of "Living Witness" (00:43:46)
The Voyager Event: Historical Facts vs. Historical Meaning (00:47:57)
Final Thoughts (00:56:33)

The Nature of Consciousness.

What is the nature of consciousness and what is its relation to the physical world? In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison explore the many ways that the nature of consciousness is portrayed in Star Trek. Focusing on the "hard problem" of consciousness (how subjective experience arises out of physical systems), Zachary and Mike explore different philosophical theories of consciousness, such as: mind-body dualism, physicalist theories of consciousness (identity theory, behaviorism, functionalism, non-reductive physicalism, and emergentism), and the problem of mental causation. Zachary and Mike also debate forms of consciousness found uniquely in Star Trek, such as the joint consciousness of the Trill, the collective consciousness of the Borg, the consciousness produced by Data's positronic brain, and the dualist nature of Spock's katra.

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 13 (00:01:08)
Winner of the Meta Treks iTunes Review Contest (00:02:54)
The Hard Problem of Consciousness (00:08:14)
Consciousness Stories in Star Trek (00:11:40)
What is it like to be a [fill in the blank]? (00:14:03)
Trill Consciousness (00:22:42)
The Borg and Collective Consciousness (00:29:01)
Mind-Body Dualism and Spock's Katra (00:35:14)
Mental Causation and the Problem of Causal Exclusion (00:45:03)
Non-Reductive Physicalism (00:50:20)
Identity Theory and Data's Positronic Brain (00:57:21)
Behaviorism and Data's Yellow Tears (01:04:19)
Emergentism (01:14:18)
(Fully) Functionalism (01:16:53)
Final Thoughts (01:23:09)

The Meaning of Life. 

Perhaps the most fundamental philosophical question, the most important question of the human condition, is the question, "What is the meaning of life?" In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling explore competing philosophical theories about the meaning of life within the Star Trek universe. Topics covered include the distinction between universal meaning and subjective meaning, meaning as progress and the Federation's progress narrative, colonialism and criticism of the progress narrative, nihilism and the lack of meaning, existentialism and self-chosen individual or cultural meaning, theism and religious meaning, finding meaning in a galactic cultural melting pot, and new questions of meaning in the 21st century that the upcoming Star Trek 2017 series might consider. 

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 12 (00:01:15)
Introducing the Topic (00:03:18)
Two Approaches: Capital-M "Meaning" vs. lowercase-m "meaning" (00:05:53)
Metanarratives and Peace (00:09:09)
A Crisis of Meaning in Star Trek? (00:13:58)
The Star Trek Answer: Meaning as Progress (00:17:32)
Star Trek Beyond: Colonialism and Criticism of the Progress Narrative (00:23:21)
Nihilism, Meaninglessness, and Suicide (00:34:06)
Existentialism and Self-Chosen Meaning (00:42:34)
Theism and Religious Meaning (00:47:40)
Meaning in a Cultural Melting Pot (00:53:27)
Meaning in the 21st Century and Star Trek 2017 (00:57:02)
Final Thoughts (01:00:32)

Exocomps and Artificial Intelligence. 

Is it possible for non-biological beings such as androids, robots, or holograms to think? In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison explore the arguments for and against the possibility of artificial intelligence. Using the TNG episode "The Quality of Life" as a discussion springboard, Zachary and Mike cover Alan Turing and the Turing Test for artificial intelligence, the mind as a digital computer, Turing machines and emulation, Frank Jackson on qualia and subjective experience, and a Klingon-inspired retelling of John Searle's famous "Chinese Room" thought experiment as an objection to the possibility of artificial intelligence. 

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 11 (00:01:05)
Synopsis of "Quality of Life" (00:01:37)
Artificial Intelligence in Star Trek and the Definition of Life (00:03:40)
Spontaneity and Beards (00:23:51)
Alan Turing and The Turing Test (00:30:06)
Turing Machines and Emulation (00:45:47)
Frank Jackson on Qualia and Subjective Experience (01:03:28)
John Searle and the "Chinese (Klingon) Room" Objection (01:06:19)
Final Thoughts (01:19:20)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)