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Though
the world of Star Trek is clearly set
in the future, its attitudes, politics and culture have always reflected the
mores of today. That’s why this
phenomenal series has kept us fascinated, challenged, inspired—as well as
entertained—for over 35 years. From the original adventures of Kirk, Spock and McCoy to the
present-day saga of Voyager,
Star Trek reminds us that even in the brave new world of the 24th
century, the deepest questions of morality and ethics must still be answered.
The fundamental principles that have always guided our heroes are indeed
powerful enough to provide direction in our own lives.
 But
what exactly are the ethics of
Star Trek? Where do they come
from?
Are these principles always the same from series to series?
What do they mean for us today? Using episodes from all four Star Trek series, as well as examples from Plato, Aristotle, and
other great philosophers from the past,
THE ETHICS OF STAR TREK explores the answers to these and other ethical
questions:
Who really benefits from justice: those who elect our political leaders, or
those who support them?
How do you pull yourself together when you’ve been split in two?
If the Prime Directive is so inviolable, why does Kirk always seem to break it?
What’s more important, the intentions of our actions or the results we get?
Does absolute power really corrupt absolutely?
What would
you
do with the power of Q?
Are rational beings the only life forms entitled to our respect?
What would it mean if, deep down, everyone really were a Ferengi?
THE ETHICS OF STAR TREK
By Judith Barad, Ph.D, with Ed Robertson
(HarperCollins, December 2000)
To order
The Ethics of Star Trek,
click
here
To read an excerpt, click
here.
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What They're
Saying About
The Ethics
of Star Trek
“This book is not only a must-read for Trek fans truly interested
in the legacy of Gene Roddenberry's creation but also for any student of
ethics, Trek
and non-Trek fans alike. The Ethics of Star Trek is graced
with a depth of clarity and logic which every reader will find a rich
and rewarding experience.”
TrekWeb.com
“Trekkies will want to beam this book up to their shelves.”
Publishers
Weekly
“The writing is
non-technical and accessible, and this book, with its focus on a piece of
popular culture, can be a useful introduction to the various philosophical
schools of thought.”
Boulder Weekly
“A fascinating
use of popular culture to engender sophisticated discussions of ethical theory .
. . One need not be a guru in the cabala of Star Trek to appreciate and
understand the witty instruction in ethics found in this volume.”
The Reading Room
“This isn't a book for the hardcore Star Trek canon. It's for
the vast majority of us - people who are intimately familiar with
Star Trek just because it's so darned pervasive culturally.”
Netsurfer
Books
Star Trek
links
Dar's
Star Trek Humor Vault
Star Trek
Convention Highlights
Montaigne's
Web
Jeff
Rector
Star
Trek.com
November 14, 2006
10:30 pm ET 7:30 pm PT
encore broadcast
November 16, 2006
7:30 pm ET 4:30 pm PT
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