Comments on: The Political Philosophy of Star Trek http://thri.ca/archives/368 Veritas Pulchritudo Est Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:40:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Joseph Sileo http://thri.ca/archives/368/comment-page-1#comment-10226 Joseph Sileo Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:03:19 +0000 http://www.thrica.com/?p=368#comment-10226 But who knows, technology could progress to the point where we can capture all forms of energy and all forms of matter, and convert the two. At that point wouldn't we have a perpetual motion system? But who knows, technology could progress to the point where we can capture all forms of energy and all forms of matter, and convert the two. At that point wouldn’t we have a perpetual motion system?

]]> By: Joseph Sileo http://thri.ca/archives/368/comment-page-1#comment-10225 Joseph Sileo Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:01:04 +0000 http://www.thrica.com/?p=368#comment-10225 It could be argued that scarcity wasn't eliminated but transferred. For example it takes a great deal of energy to operate a replicator. It is shown in Voyager that resources were rationed because they were far away from their normal source of energy. A Market Economy immediately formed both aboard the ship,where crew members would use Holodeck time, replicator rations, and work details as currency, and between Voyager and other civilizations, where technology and other resources were traded. ST: Voyager is actually a great example of the natural emergence of a market economy. The reason the other series appeared to be Socialist Utopias was because matter was in infinite supply because they had the technology to convert energy into matter. The technology was also present to harness huge quantities of energy with little effort. (matter antimatter reactions) Eventually as with all systems you get diminishing returns, so I would imagine with time scarcity would rear its ugly head. It could be argued that scarcity wasn’t eliminated but transferred. For example it takes a great deal of energy to operate a replicator. It is shown in Voyager that resources were rationed because they were far away from their normal source of energy. A Market Economy immediately formed both aboard the ship,where crew members would use Holodeck time, replicator rations, and work details as currency, and between Voyager and other civilizations, where technology and other resources were traded. ST: Voyager is actually a great example of the natural emergence of a market economy. The reason the other series appeared to be Socialist Utopias was because matter was in infinite supply because they had the technology to convert energy into matter. The technology was also present to harness huge quantities of energy with little effort. (matter antimatter reactions)

Eventually as with all systems you get diminishing returns, so I would imagine with time scarcity would rear its ugly head.

]]> By: David Pontoppidan http://thri.ca/archives/368/comment-page-1#comment-10224 David Pontoppidan Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:18:32 +0000 http://www.thrica.com/?p=368#comment-10224 I like this. However, you must remember that both trade and private property exist in the Star Trek universe and within the Federation, although in post-capitalistic ways of transaction and commerce. Star Trek is therefore not socialist by traditional definitions. I prefer to think of it as somewhat anarchistic. But as a fellow friend of ours would say, it is only logical to assume that market-based systems would evolve and change drastically as technology improved the ways in which we live. Above all else, Star Trek is about what it means to be human, and about moral questions. I was reminded of that tonight watching 'Generations', where Kirk gives up Paradise and provides the ultimate sacrifice to "make a difference". I like this. However, you must remember that both trade and private property exist in the Star Trek universe and within the Federation, although in post-capitalistic ways of transaction and commerce. Star Trek is therefore not socialist by traditional definitions. I prefer to think of it as somewhat anarchistic.

But as a fellow friend of ours would say, it is only logical to assume that market-based systems would evolve and change drastically as technology improved the ways in which we live.

Above all else, Star Trek is about what it means to be human, and about moral questions. I was reminded of that tonight watching ‘Generations’, where Kirk gives up Paradise and provides the ultimate sacrifice to “make a difference”.

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