Podcast appearances and mentions of meta treks

Gnosticism, Esotericism, and Secrecy in Star Trek. We often take for granted that philosophers and Starfleet officers mean what they say. But there is a rich history of esoteric writing in the history of philosophy, whether for pedagogical, protective, or political purposes. The same is often true within the Star Trek universe itself. All of Star Trek can interpreted as a form of esoteric expression on the part of its creator Gene Roddenberry as a way of expressing his own social and political messages while evading television censors of the late 1960s. And within the Star Trek universe, from starship captains and Federation diplomats to the esoteric practices of and ceremonies of various alien races and religions, certain practices, beliefs, and various forms of dangerous knowledge are kept secret from the average Federation citizen and Starfleet officer. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling lift the veil of secrecy to explore and reveal the many forms of gnosticism, esotericism, and secrecy in the Star Trek universe. Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts (00:02:59) The Naivety of Enterprise and Knowledge in the Interstellar Community (00:10:31) Neoplatonist Gnostic Societies (00:14:10) Janeway and the Omega Directive (00:18:02) Different Types of Esotericism (00:20:16) Simon Tarses, Julian Bashir and Defensive Esotericism (00:26:23) Challenging the Notion of the Star Trek Universe as a Utopian Ideal (0030:56) Captain Archer and Political Esotericism in A Night in Sickbay (00:37:44) Deep Space Nine and the Federation Agenda (00:44:08) Pedagogical Knowledge and The Traveler from TNG (00:48:31) Parables, The Gospels, and Theological Esoteric Knowledge (00:53:24) Geordi's Powerpoints and Pedagogical Clarity (00:58:36) Klingon Tea Ceremonies and Performative Expressions of Knowledge (01:04:04) Secret Societies and Secret Knowledge in the Star Trek Universe (01:05:47) Young Tuvok and Pedagogical Esotericism (01:12:29) Is the Q Continuum Q-soteric? (01:14:20) Mysticism and the Vulcans (01:19:08) Justified True Belief and Authentic Esotericism (01:23:35) Closing (01:28:54) 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)

Gnosticism, Esotericism, and Secrecy in Star Trek.   We often take for granted that philosophers and Starfleet officers mean what they say. But there is a rich history of esoteric writing in the history of philosophy, whether for pedagogical, protective, or political purposes. The same is often true within the Star Trek universe itself. All of Star Trek can interpreted as a form of esoteric expression on the part of its creator Gene Roddenberry as a way of expressing his own social and political messages while evading television censors of the late 1960s. And within the Star Trek universe, from starship captains and Federation diplomats to the esoteric practices of and ceremonies of various alien races and religions, certain practices, beliefs, and various forms of dangerous knowledge are kept secret from the average Federation citizen and Starfleet officer. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling lift the veil of secrecy to explore and reveal the many forms of gnosticism, esotericism, and secrecy in the Star Trek universe. Chapters Intro (00:01:19)  Initial Thoughts (00:02:59)  The Naivety of Enterprise and Knowledge in the Interstellar Community  (00:10:31)  Neoplatonist Gnostic Societies (00:14:10)  Janeway and the Omega Directive (00:18:02) Different Types of Esotericism (00:20:16) Simon Tarses, Julian Bashir and Defensive Esotericism (00:26:23) Challenging the Notion of the Star Trek Universe as a Utopian Ideal (0030:56) Captain Archer and Political Esotericism in A Night in Sickbay (00:37:44) Deep Space Nine and the Federation Agenda (00:44:08) Pedagogical Knowledge and The Traveler from TNG (00:48:31) Parables, The Gospels, and Theological Esoteric Knowledge (00:53:24) Geordi's Powerpoints and Pedagogical Clarity (00:58:36) Klingon Tea Ceremonies and Performative Expressions of Knowledge (01:04:04) Secret Societies and Secret Knowledge in the Star Trek Universe (01:05:47) Young Tuvok and Pedagogical Esotericism (01:12:29) Is the Q Continuum Q-soteric? (01:14:20) Mysticism and the Vulcans (01:19:08) Justified True Belief and Authentic Esotericism (01:23:35) Closing (01:28:54)   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)

Philosophical Themes in Star Trek: Picard, Season 1. The recently completed first season of Star Trek: Picard deals with an impressive amount of philosophical material in a mere ten episodes. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical themes and concepts within the premier season of Star Trek: Picard. From Rios's broody existentialism to the metaphysics of android neurons, join Zachary and Mike as they practice absolute candor in their discussion of Season 1 of Star Trek: Picard. Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts on Season One of Star Trek: Picard (00:03:15) Broody Existentialism and Broken Characters (00:08:50) Picard's Identity and Sartre's First Principle of Existentialism (00:16:08) Aristotelian Acorns and Human Potential (00:29:23) Stoicism and Order Out of Chaos (00:34:14) Starfleet Isn't Starfleet Anymore (00:43:43) Mortality and the Meaning of Life (00:46:30) The "New" Transporter Problem and Consciousness (00:54:26) Consequentialist Ethics and the Death of Bruce Maddox (01:03:15) Philosophy of Mind and Synthetic Picard (01:05:45) Philosophical Disappointments in Star Trek: Picard, Season One (01:11:17) Closing (01:25:12) 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)

Philosophical Themes in Star Trek: Picard, Season 1.  The recently completed first season of Star Trek: Picard deals with an impressive amount of philosophical material in a mere ten episodes. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical themes and concepts within the premier season of Star Trek: Picard. From Rios's broody existentialism to the metaphysics of android neurons, join Zachary and Mike as they practice absolute candor in their discussion of Season 1 of Star Trek: Picard.   Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts on Season One of Star Trek: Picard (00:03:15) Broody Existentialism and Broken Characters (00:08:50) Picard's Identity and Sartre's First Principle of Existentialism (00:16:08) Aristotelian Acorns and Human Potential (00:29:23) Stoicism and Order Out of Chaos (00:34:14) Starfleet Isn't Starfleet Anymore (00:43:43) Mortality and the Meaning of Life (00:46:30) The "New" Transporter Problem and Consciousness (00:54:26) Consequentialist Ethics and the Death of Bruce Maddox (01:03:15) Philosophy of Mind and Synthetic Picard (01:05:45) Philosophical Disappointments in Star Trek: Picard, Season One (01:11:17) Closing (01:25:12)  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)

Dante in the Delta Quadrant. Far away from home, everyone could do with a guide. That’s true whether you’re a 14th-century Italian poet embarking on an ultramundane journey through the afterlife or a Starfleet captain stranded on the far side of the galaxy. While Dante is lucky enough to be aided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil, Kathryn Janeway—who received a copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy as an engagement gift from her fiancé, Mark—must turn to Neelix to guide her through her own dark wood. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Zachary Fruhling of Meta Treks and To The Journey for a look at how Dante’s Vita Nuova and Divine Comedy are referenced in Star Trek: Voyager, in the episodes “Latent Image” and “Shattered,” respectively. More generally, we consider how well Dante’s archetypal characters—Beatrice, Virgil, and the poet himself—might map onto some of Star Trek’s own protagonists. We also ask whether the cosmology of heaven, purgatory, and hell can tell us anything about the route home from the Delta Quadrant. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Lost in Translation (00:23:05) 70,000 Light Years from Florence (00:38:24) Dante’s Cosmology (01:02:26) The (Other) Undiscovered Country (01:27:00) Final Thoughts (01:35:32) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Zachary Fruhling Production Duncan Barrett (Editor, Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Dante in the Delta Quadrant. Far away from home, everyone could do with a guide. That’s true whether you’re a 14th-century Italian poet embarking on an ultramundane journey through the afterlife or a Starfleet captain stranded on the far side of the galaxy. While Dante is lucky enough to be aided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil, Kathryn Janeway—who received a copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy as an engagement gift from her fiancé, Mark—must turn to Neelix to guide her through her own dark wood. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Zachary Fruhling of Meta Treks and To The Journey for a look at how Dante’s Vita Nuova and Divine Comedy are referenced in Star Trek: Voyager, in the episodes “Latent Image” and “Shattered,” respectively. More generally, we consider how well Dante’s archetypal characters—Beatrice, Virgil, and the poet himself—might map onto some of Star Trek’s own protagonists. We also ask whether the cosmology of heaven, purgatory, and hell can tell us anything about the route home from the Delta Quadrant. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Lost in Translation (00:23:05) 70,000 Light Years from Florence (00:38:24) Dante’s Cosmology (01:02:26) The (Other) Undiscovered Country (01:27:00) Final Thoughts (01:35:32) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Zachary Fruhling Production Duncan Barrett (Editor, Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Enterprise Season 1 - Essential Trek Philosophy.  Like the first season of any new television series, Season 1 of Enterprise struggled to find its footing, especially coming out of the the successful run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager throughout the 1990s. And while Season 1 of Enterprise had important overarching themes, such as human technological progress, showing the Star Trek universe to be a possible future for us in the emerging 21st century, getting back to Star Trek's roots as a "wagon train to the stars," and building unity through diversity, Season 1 of Enterprise had several philosophically important episodes as well. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss the philosophical themes and compare their choices for Essential Trek Philosophy from Season 1 of Star Trek: Enterprise.   Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts about Enterprise Season One (00:04:07) Understanding the Larger Themes of Enterprise Season One (00:13:28) Star Trek Post September 11th (00:23:52) Terra Nova (00:27:02) Dear Doctor (00:34:44) The Andorian Incident (00:44:23) Shuttlepod One (00:53:41) Breaking the Ice (01:00:17) Detained (01:09:42) Honorable Mention: Fusion (01:14:03) Final Thoughts on the History of Philosophy and Enterprise (01:14:50) Recap of Essential Trek Philosophy (01:17:51) Closing (01:18:38)  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)

Death Wish. Nineteenth-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche held that Western philosophers from Socrates onward have had a gigantic death wish in the form of philosophical escapism and denial of our nature as finite, embodied beings with our own uniquely individual perspectives, drives, and desires. Philosophers in the Q Continuum likewise seem to have a death wish, especially Quinn, the Q Continuum's greatest philosopher. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical and existential themes in the second-season Voyager episode "Death Wish." Although "Death Wish" is usually interpreted as a moral dilemma about assisted suicide—itself a hot moral topic since the 1990s—Zachary and Mike argue instead that "Death Wish" is a subtler but highly-developed example of Nietzschean philosophy of embodiment, perspectivism, and metaphorical self-expression.  Zachary and Mike also discuss the question of meaning as it relates to death, the finitude of human life, and the possibility of immortality—in the Q Continuum or in any form of the afterlife. Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts on Voyager: "Death Wish" (00:03:32) Philosophical Overview and Examples of Nietzschean Philosophy (00:06:43) Quinn: Genius or Madman? (00:16:39) The Meaningfulness of Life (00:26:16) The Problem with Perfect Being Theology and the Death of God (00:42:04) Camus and The Myth of Sisyphus (00:43:18) Existentialism and the Subjectivity of Fulfillment in Life (00:48:31) Marcus Aurelius and the Question of Legacy (00:55:15) How the Q Continuum is Depicted in Death Wish (00:58:49) Comparing and Contrasting How Star Trek Depicts the Q Continuum (01:08:25) Is All of Star Trek Escapist? (01:11:38) A Few Final Questions About "Death Wish" (01:21:17) Closing (01:25:56)   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) Mar Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Utopianism in Star Trek.   The Star Trek universe is sometimes claimed to be a utopia. From technological progress to an enlightened view of human nature and equal opportunity, the vision of the future depicted in Star Trek is often touted by fans as the best possible future for humankind. An often-overlooked aspect of utopianism, however, is that "utopia" literally means "no place," calling into question the plausibility of such an optimistic future.  From intragalactic wars to power-hungry admirals to secret government organizations, the struggles of the 23rd and 24th centuries are all very familiar to us here in the 21st century, potentially undermining the very notion of human progress for which Star Trek is so famous. With the overall darker tone of Star Trek: Discovery and, to a lesser extent, Star Trek: Enterprise before that, it is reasonable to ask whether fans themselves, when pressed, really do still believe in the Star Trek vision of the future.  In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss utopianism in the Star Trek universe, whether Star Trek should really be considered a utopia after all, the dark sides of "perfect" societies, and the importance of having an idealistic vision of future human society—a modern-day take on a futuristic Plato's Republic—whether or not that ideal future is possible to achieve.   Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts on Utopianism in the Star Trek Universe (00:01:55) DS9 and Criticisms of Federation Utopia (00:06:33) What Ways is the Society of the 24th Century Utopian? (00:12:50) The Role of Human Improvement in a Utopian Society (00:19:40) Non-Utopian Aspects of Society in Star Trek (00:21:48) Do Fans Believe in the Utopian Message of Star Trek? (00:33:50) Plato's Republic and the Perfect Society (00:42:23) Counter Culture Moving Humanity Forward (00:50:11) Kirk: Destroyer of Utopias vs. Picard: Preserver of Utopias (00:57:50) Final Thoughts (01:06:07) Closing (01:09:34)  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)

Alternate Universes and Modal Realism.  The Star Trek franchise is full of alternate universes, from different quantum realities (TNG: "Parallels") and the alternate reality seen in the Kelvin timeline (Star Trek, 2009) to the Mirror Universe seen in the Original Series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Discovery. In Star Trek, these alternate universes are just as real as the actual universe, a philosophical position known as "modal realism." In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison debate modal realism, the reality of alternate universes, through the lens of the Star Trek universe and whether we should consider alternate realities or "possible worlds" to be as metaphysically real as our own actual universe.   Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thought on Modal Realism (00:04:04) What Difference Does It Make? (00:08:45) David Lewis and Counterfactuals (00:12:36) Modal Concepts (00:17:43) The Distinction and Contrast of the Mirror Universe in Star Trek (00:20:46) Quantum Branching (00:29:50) Gottfried Leibniz and "Best of All Possible Worlds" (00:34:28) Is Modal Realism a Scientific Question or a Philosophical Question? (00:39:00) The Space Between the Spaces (00:43:26) Different Types of Possible Universes (00:45:20) Criticisms of Modal Realism (00:57:13) Diverging Universes (01:00:10) Closing (01:05:03)  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)

Fan Response to “The Red Angel.” The tenth episode of Star Trek: Discovery season two is here! After watching “The Red Angel,” fans had much to talk about. In this episode of Postcards from The Edge, host Amy Nelson is joined by Mike Morrison of Meta Treks to discuss all the feedback we've received from listeners—both positive and negative! Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Fan Response (00:07:50) Bits and Pieces (00:32:35) Questions and Concerns (00:41:25) Final Thoughts (00:51:50) Closing (00:55:19) Host Amy Nelson Guest Mike Morrison Production Amy Nelson (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Brian Meloche (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

S02 E09, "Project Daedalus": Disco Night: Calypso. Disco Night #6. Transporter Lock #35. Star Trek Universe 209. Making Sense #151. Transporter Room 3 #157. The Edge L27. The DiscoTrek 209. Lower Decks: Calypso. Lower Decks: Runaway. Mission Log Live #61. Shuttle Pod 209. Discovering Trek 209. Afterbuzz 209. Post Show Recaps 209. Recap FREQcast 209. From the Holodeck 209. Age of Discovery 209. The Star Trek Discovery Podcast #34. Age of Discovery 208. In Discovery We Trust 209. Disco Night 29. Lower Decks 209. Ceti Alpha 3 #118. Sci-Fi Party Line #312. The Well: #36, #37, #38. In Our Time: “Authenticity.” Meta Treks #70. Why the Trek 209. A Command Of Her Own #57. The Edge T28. The Greatest Discovery 209. Star Trek Wars 209. The Edge #65. The Edge P34. Teevee #543. Subspace Transmissions 209. Discotrek 209. Disco Nights 209. Discussing Trek 209. Making Sense #150. James Hancock 209 (YouTube). Nerdrotic 209. Spockcast #38. New Cydonia - Starcadia, HAYLEY 2017. Running in the Night - FM-84, Ollie Wride 2016. Freeee - KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Ty Dolla $ign 2018. Rogue One (2016). Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi (2017). Star Trek: Discovery, S02 E05, "Saints of Imperfection" (2019). Ex Machina (2014). Her (2013).

Fan Response to “Light and Shadows.” The seventh episode of Star Trek: Discovery season two is here! After watching “Light and Shadows,” fans had much to talk about. In this episode of Postcards from The Edge, host Amy Nelson is joined by Mike Morrison of Meta Treks to discuss all the feedback we've received from listeners—both positive and negative! Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Initial Thoughts (00:05:57) Fan Response (00:11:03) Bits and Pieces (00:27:30) Questions and Concerns (00:33:13) Closing (00:46:52) Host Amy Nelson Guest Mike Morrison Production Amy Nelson (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Tony Robinson (Associate Producer) Lisa Slack (Associate Producer) Tom Puleo (Associate Producer) Shoaib Mirza (Associate Producer) Richard Rutledge (Associate Producer) James Muldrow (Associate Producer) Cornelia Reutner (Associate Producer) Ryan Maillet (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Brian Meloche (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Discovery Season 1 - Essential Trek Philosophy.   We in the 21st century do not live in an age of mythology as the ancient Greeks and Romans did, with epic heroes and narratives to provide context and meaning for our lives. Yet we hunger and thirst for meaning, as humans have done since the dawn of human history and consciousness. To its fans, Star Trek has become a form of modern mythology, with its own ethos, purposefulness, and meaningfulness, and with its own epic heroes—whether Captain Kirk in the Original Series or Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery—whose journeys, struggles, and overcoming of obstacles are reminiscent of the existential journeys of classical epic heroes, from Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey to Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy.   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss the philosophical themes in season one of Star Trek: Discovery, from speculative and theoretical issues in contemporary physics and biology—emergence, panspermia, and panpsychism—to existential questions of self-identity and self-definition—including the rise, fall, and redemption of Michael Burnham, the Federation's struggle to maintain its ideals during wartime and in the face of imminent threats to its very existence, and the emerging unification and national identity of the Klingon Empire.   Chapters  Intro (00:01:19)  Initial Thoughts About Star Trek: Discovery - Season One (00:2:31)  Essential Trek Philosophy Essentials (00:17:19)  Context is for Kings (00:19:06)  The Vulcan Hello / Battle at the Binary Stars (00:27:07)  The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry / Choose Your Pain (00:37:50)  Lethe (00:42:43)  Will You Take My Hand? (00:50:54)  Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad (00:59:03)  Final Thoughts (01:04:58)  Recap (01:12:48)  Closing (01:13:55)   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)

Equality and Equal Rights.   Equality in the United Federation of Planets is often taken for granted, that alien life forms are entitled to the same rights, privileges, and opportunities as humans. But to which beings does this equality extend? Humanoids? Only sentient life forms? Intelligent androids? Whales? Nanites? And equality in what sense? Political equality? Moral equality? Equality under the law? Equality of opportunity?   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophy of equality in the Star Trek universe, from issues of accessibility for disabled Starfleet officers such as Commander LaForge (TNG) and Ensign Melora (DS9: "Melora"), to the rights of non-humanoid life forms, whether intelligent whales here on Earth (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) or non-human aliens such as the Horta (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark") and the Sheliak (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command").   Chapters  Intro (00:01:19)  Equality - Making a Distinction (00:03:16)  Political Equality Over Time in Star Trek (00:04:49)  Moral Equality in the Federation (00:11:22)  Moral Equality and Future Potential (00:20:25)  Equality Under the Law, Equal Rights, and the Ethics of Care (00:28:07)  Equality and Exploitation (00:33:48)  Deep Space Nine and Equal Opportunity (00:36:34)  Starfleet and the Federation: Is the Captains Life More Valuable? (00:46:42)  Our Attitude Toward Other Cultures in the 24th Century (00:55:34)  Closing (00:58:52)   Hosts  Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison   Production  Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) 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)

The Q Continuum.   From the The Original Series onward, Star Trek has had a preoccupation with false gods, culminating in the introduction of Q and the Q Continuum in Star Trek: The Next Generation. But although members of the Q Continuum have many of the properties usually ascribed to deities—such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and so on—do they posses these qualities to sufficient degree to be considered genuine deities of the Star Trek universe?   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling give a philosophical analysis of the Q Continuum and the deity-like attributes of the Q. From paradoxes of omnipotence, such as the Q being powerful enough to create a prison another Q cannot break out of, to the many things the Q don't seem to know despite their supposed omniscience, Mike and Zachary debate, and perhaps debunk, the status of the Q as deities.   Chapters  Intro (00:01:19)  Should We Consider the Q to be Deities? (00:02:42)  Q and the Q Continuum (00:07:34)  The Tension Between Transcendence and Immanence (00:14:44)  Contrasting The Q Continuum with the DS9 Prophets (00:20:08)  Are the Q Omnipresent? (00:23:18)  Are the Q Omnipotent? (00:27:32)  Are the Q Omniscient? (00:35:00)  Attributes Not Found Among The Q (00:43:34)  Should The Q Have a Moral Obligation? (00:47:48)  Star Trek and False Gods (00:53:23)  The Visualizations of the Q Continuum (01:03:54)  Closing (01:11:07)   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) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Philosophical Themes in "The Cage."   In the opening scenes of "The Cage," the unaired pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, Captain Christopher Pike is having an existential crisis, feeling the weight of his responsibility as a starship captain, being responsible for the lives of the people under his command, and longing for a different kind of life (being home on Earth with a picnic lunch and horseback riding every day, or perhaps becoming an Orion trader). When Captain Pike is imprisoned by the Talosians and given the chance to have his every wish granted as an illusion, Captain Pike is forced to grapple with what he really wants in life and with the true nature of human happiness.   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical themes in "The Cage," from the existential angst of free will, making choices, and the burdens of responsibility, to the importance of human freedom and free will, risks and rewards, and of looking to the future and setting a course for the next adventure.   Chapters  Intro (00:01:19)  Criticisms and Observations of The Cage (00:03:34)  Alien Commentary (00:08:23)  Zoo: Humans as a Lower Life form (00:14:04)  Existential Tiredness (00:17:40)  A Galaxy of Illusions to Choose From (00:30:18)  The Pleasure Machine (00:35:43)  The Worth of a Man's Soul (00:38:37)  The New Adam and Eve (00:45:11)  A Faustian Deal with the Devil (00:50:41)  Free Will and the Human Condition (00:55:16)  Aftermath of Talosian War (01:00:37)  Final Thoughts About The Cage (01:07:06)  Closing (01:14:09)   Hosts  Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morison   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)

The Original Series Season 1 - Essential Trek Philosophy.   The entire Star Trek franchise, with over 700 television episodes and 13 feature films (to date), owes its existence to the strength of season 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series. If season 1 hadn't been as strong as it was, we wouldn't have the Star Trek franchise we know and love today. Season 1 of The Original Series isn't just strong dramatically, however. It is also strong philosophically, episode by episode exploring abstract ideas, future human potential, and the human condition.   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling go back to where it all began in a discussion of their top picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series. Join Mike and Zachary as they discuss the four dominant philosophical themes in the premiere season of Star Trek: ethical and moral dilemmas, transhumanism and future human potential, the internal struggle of conflicting human natures, and the ethics of war.   Chapters  Intro (00:01:19)  Initial Thoughts on TOS Season One (00:01:58)  The Four Main Philosophical Themes (00:10:26)  Moral Choices and Ethical Conundrums (00:14:54)  The City on the Edge of Forever (00:15:07)  Transhumanism (00:21:13)  The Cage (00:22:24)  Arena (00:26:28)  Errand of Mercy (00:28:11)  The Return of the Archons (00:33:39)  Space Seed (00:37:47)  Where No Man Has Gone Before (00:39:52)  Charlie X/The Squire of Gothos (00:40:30)  What Are Little Girls Made Of? (00:42:32)  Miri (00:46:13)  Dagger of the Mind (0047:31)  Exploration of Human Nature (00:50:49)  The Enemy Within (00:52:06)  The Conscience of the King (00:56:21)  The Alternative Factor (00:58:03)  Ethics of War (01:03:48)  Balance of Terror (01:04:33)  A Taste of Armageddon (01:06:14)  This Side of Paradise (01:08:35)  Devil in the Dark (01:11:38)  Recap and Final Thoughts (01:15:08)  Closing (01:18:31)   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)

Nothing Human.   The real Crell Moset may have been a 24th-century Cardassian Dr. Mengele, but his holographic representation was always such a nice guy in the fifth-season Voyagerepisode "Nothing Human." In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling discuss the pros and cons of using Crell Moset's morally questionable medical research, and the possibly tainted medical knowledge it produced, to save the life of B'Elanna Torres against her own wishes.   Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  It's a Great Episode for Meta Treks (00:01:56)  Everyone Has a Relative Like That (00:06:06)  It's a Plot Device (00:09:26)  There Has to be a Line Drawn in the Sand (00:14:02)  I Need Holographic Help! (00:20:54)  I'd Snuggle That (00:25:12)  Who's Your Second Best? (00:28:22)  Closing (00:34:55)   Hosts  Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling   Production  Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Philosophical Themes in "These Are the Voyages."   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison explore the philosophical themes in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, "These Are the Voyages." While "These Are the Voyages" remains controversial with fans of Enterprise because of the focus on Commander Riker and Counselor Troi aboard the Enterprise-D, "These Are the Voyages" had the weighty task of book-ending 18 continuous years of Star Trek on television, from 1987 with the premier of Star Trek: The Next Generation to 2005 with the finale of Star Trek: Enterprise. From finding meaning and answers to life's biggest questions in historical events, to ethical conundrums involving conflicting duties, Zachary and Mike give a philosophical valentine to the underappreciated "These Are the Voyages."   Chapters  Intro (00:01:20)  Plot Problems and Interesting Philosophy (00:08:25)  The Hermeneutical Question (00:15:25)  Recreating the Past and Finding Meaning (00:23:04)  Commander Riker and Conflicting Duties (00:35:40)  Kant, Truth, and Consequences (00:41:49)  Open Source Information vs. Closed Access (00:53:54)  Perspective Through Interpersonal Stories (01:02:21)  The Value and Weight of History (01:11:17)  Closing (01:18:45)  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)

Good vs. Evil in Star Trek.   We generally understand the meaning of "good," whether in the sense of following the rules or in the sense of minimizing the suffering of others. But, paradoxically, we understand the nature of "evil" to a far lesser degree. While Star Trek tends to shy away from making strict moral judgments, opting instead to humanize its villains by explaining the psychological motivations for their actions or the roots of those actions in past experiences, Star Trek does, however, explore the nature of evil in characters such as Armus from "Skin of Evil" (Star Trek: The Next Generation), the Borg Queen (Star Trek: First Contact; Star Trek: Voyager), and the Pah-Wraiths (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss "good versus evil" in the Star Trek universe. Are these supposedly evil characters are truly evil, or are they off the hook because of their backgrounds and their respective sob stories?   Chapters  Intro (00:01:19)  Initial Thoughts on Good and Evil (00:03:17)  Pah-Wraiths and Evil in DS9 (00:08:43)  False Dichotomies and Defining Characteristics of Evil (00:11:25)  Enter Armus from "Skin of Evil" (00:18:09)  Comparing Evil in Star Trek to Evil in Theology (00:28:52)  The Borg as a Candidate for Evil (00:38:00)  The Borg Queen vs. The Pah-Wraiths (00:50:39)  Nietzsche and the Judaeo Concept of Evil (00:56:41)  Khaaaan! (01:05:51)  Final Thoughts (01:13:52)  Closing (01:27:02)   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)

TNG Season 5 - 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 5 of Star Trek: The Next Generation. From transhumanism and a positive spin on genetic engineering in "The Masterpiece Society" to the philosophy of language and an exploration of non-referential language in "Darmok," season five contains some of the philosophically richest episodes in all of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mike and Zachary also discuss Kantian ethics versus consequentialism in "I, Borg" and medical ethics in the aptly named episode "Ethics," in addition to the unique explorations of the metaphysics of time and the ethics of time travel in "Cause and Effect" and "A Matter of Time."   Chapters  Intro (00:01:20)  The Masterpiece Society (00:06:15)  Darmok (00:20:03)  I, Borg (00:47:31)  Cause and Effect (00:55:37)  A Matter of Time (01:01:39)  Conundrum (01:06:59)  Ethics (01:10:33)  Closing (01:20:43)   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)

The Conscience of the King.   To what extent does a person remain morally responsible for his or her actions over time, even after many years or after changes in character and experience? Can people ever change who they fundamentally are inside, or do they merely become better actors playing different roles?   In "The Conscience of the King" (Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1), Captain Kirk suspects the 23rd-Century Shakespearean actor Anton Karidian of actually being the (believed-deceased) former governor of Earth colony Tarsus IV, Kodos "The Executioner," notorious for having executed over 4,000 people. Is Karidian really Kodos after all? And if so, is Karidian now a different person, in a moral sense, than the person he used to be? Or is Kodos "The Executioner" still there just beneath the surface and under the guise of Karidian the actor?   In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the philosophical themes of moral responsibility and personal identity over time in "The Conscience of the King," including the inspired use of theater-acting and masks as metaphors for personal transformation, or perhaps the lack thereof.   Chapters  Intro (00:01:20)  Initial Thoughts about "The Conscience of the King" (00:02:30)  Morality and Identity Over Time (00:10:31)  Radical Conversion, Paul the Apostle, and Identity (00:16:31)  The Sins of the Father: Lenore Karidian (00:24:26)  Caesar of the Stars (00:26:46)  Kodos and Eugenics (00:32:18)  Not Very Human (00:41:03)  Truman on Trial (00:51:29)  Guilt and Culpability (00:57:10)  Riley and Revenge (01:00:25)  Closing (01:14:29)   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)

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)

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)

Star Trek and Allegory. In February 1964, Gene Roddenberry’s television show The Lieutenant produced an episode dealing with racism in the US military. The episode proved so controversial that NBC refused to pay for it, let alone broadcast it. A month later, Roddenberry pitched Star Trek, a science-fiction format that would allow him to address such incendiary issues indirectly, by telling stories set in the future as allegories of contemporary concerns. Although occasionally ham-fisted, Star Trek’s early allegories trod provocative new ground, and, half a century later, the allegorical mode is still a key part of Trek’s storytelling. In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Zachary Fruhling of Meta Treks and To The Journey to discuss the relationship between Star Trek and allegory, considering both Star Trek as allegory and instances of allegorical narrative within individual episodes. From Aesop’s Fables to medieval romance—and beyond—we trace a line of allegorical writing that leads all the way to the twenty-fourth century. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Morals, Meanings, and Messages (00:06:15) Loose Canons (00:17:13) An Allegorical Taxonomy (00:35:55) Fables and Fools (00:42:07) Personification (01:09:45) Closing (01:22:15) Host Duncan Barrett Guest Zachary Fruhling Production Tony Black (Editor) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Amy Nelson (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

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)

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)

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)  

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)

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)  

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 Revolution, Democracy, Marxism, Emancipation, 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 progress, political unification, eliminating 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)  

Peak Performance.  Games have a tendency to bring out the best or worst behaviors in players. Competition is innate to human nature and challenges are difficult to resist. Riker challenges Kolrami, a grandmaster of Strategema, knowing he has no chance of winning. We see the USS Hathaway's hand picked crew led by Commander Riker take on the seasoned Captain Picard in a battle simulation to prepare them for the Borg. The strategies used range from predicable to unexpected, especially when they encounter the Ferengi. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Lee Hutchison and Amy Nelson with special guest Zachary Fruhling discuss "Peak Performance," a season two fan favorite episode. We relate different components of competition, challenge, reputation and failure to the game of life. It is possible to make no mistakes and still lose; that is life! Chapters Into (00:01:19)  TNG Love (00:02:39)  Peak Performance (00:03:28)  War Games (00:06:57)  Alternate Season Finale? (00:09:23)  Dealing with Crisis (00:11:45)  Big Scary Ferengi (00:15:40)  Strategema (00:20:12)  Meta Treks (00:25:40)  Competition (00:32:38)  Final thoughts (00:47:07)  Closing (00:51:12) Hosts Lee Hutchison and Amy Nelson   Guests Zachary Fruhling   Production Richard Marquez (Editor and Producer) Lee Hutchison (Producer) Amy Nelson (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Michael E Hueter (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

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)

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) 

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)

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)

"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)

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) 

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)   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

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)   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

"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)   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

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  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

Aaron & Joe have saved the jewel in the crown of the Star Wars Holiday special for our 100th episode..the animated short "The Faithful Wookie"! Learn about the animation company, Nelvana, find out what children's TV show the voice of Boba Fett was on and Aaron and Joe may have stumbled onto a theory that could change the way everyone at Force fm sees Star Wars. So buckle in, it's going to be a crazy Y-Wing ride! Chapters Intro  (00:01:16)   Synopsis (00:06:46)   Air date, writer and voices (00:5:04)   About Nelvana (00:8:18) Star Wars Kenner Toy Commercial  (00:10:30)   Meta Treks (00:29:36) Joe makes a surprise announcement    Closing (00:29:54)   Happy April Fools Day (00:34:34)  Hosts Aaron Harvey Joe Slepski Production Aaron Harvey (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Eric Extreme (Associate Producer)  Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager).

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)   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

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)   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

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 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

Spock, Sub-Mariner Aaron & Adam and special guest Joe Slepski host of the "Joe on Joe, a G.I. Joe Podcast" grab a bowl of Boo-Berry cereal and review "The Ambergris Element". What happens when Kirk and Spock are made into waterbreathers by an undersea race, and the venom of a deadly sea snake is the only antidote to return them to their normal selves? Underwater adventure of course! We talk about the newest shuttle to grace the overfilled shuttle bay, the Aquashuttle and it's companion the scouter-gig, the Enterprise's equivalent to a bass fishing boat, we wrestle with ethical dilemmas like cultural preservation and transporter ethics and along the way discuss The Man from Atlantis, the Heavy Metal the Movie, and Irwin Allen's "Earthquake." So grab a snorkel and some fins and swim on in for "The Ambergris Element." Chapters Intro (00:01:40) Synopsis (00:05:37) Air date, writer and voices (00:07:11) Heavy Metal Movie commercial (00:19:53) Story (00:20:19) How many eyelids? (00:25:15) G.I. Joe 70s Toy Commercial (00:40:46) Trek Tech (00:41:18) Meta Treks (00:47:23) Closing (01:06:32) Hosts Aaron Harvey Adam Drosin Guest Joe Slepski of Joe on Joe, a G.I. Joe podcast @joeonjoepod Production Aaron Harvey (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Eric Extreme (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager).

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  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

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)   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