Scientific and Medical Ethics
Running Time: 1 hour 13 minutes 27 seconds
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In Deep Space Nine, we learn that the Bajoran scientist Dr. Mora Pol helped Odo achieve his full potential as a sentient, shape-shifting life form. Odo, however, carried deep-seated resentment for his initial treatment under Dr. Mora and for some of Dr. Mora's more invasive research methods. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss issues of scientific and medical ethics in Star Trek, including whether one is ever justified in causing harm to another living being for benefit of that being itself, for the benefit of other living beings, for a society's greater good, or for the sake of increasing scientific and medical knowledge.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 51 (00:01:07)
The Four Stages of Odo and Dr. Mora (00:02:25)
Sentience, Suffering, and Informed Consent (00:05:21)
Competing Ethical Theories on Scientific Research (00:13:56)
The Cardassian Factor - Comparing Dr. Mora Pol with Dr. Crell Moset (00:24:46)
Virtue Ethics - Clinical Detachment and the Ethics of Care (00:33:09)
The Evolution of Dr. Mora - From Scientist to Loving Father (00:39:23)
Emotionally Attached Doctors in Star Trek - McCoy and Pulaski (00:54:17)
Comparison with Commander Maddox and Data (00:56:06)
Final Thoughts (00:58:12)
Hosts
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison
Production
Mike Morrison (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)
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TNG Season 5 - Essential Trek Philosophy. We compare our top picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 5 of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Conscience of the King. We discuss the themes of moral responsibility and personal identity over time in "The Conscience of the King" (Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1).
Drone Warfare and "The Arsenal of Freedom." We discuss ethical issues related to automated warfare and the commodification of war in "The Arsenal of Freedom" (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1).
Vulcan Katras and the Mind-Body Problem. We give a philosophical analysis of the metaphysics of Vulcan katras in relation to the mind-body problem in philosophy.
Deep Space Nine Season 5 - Essential Trek Philosophy. We compare our choices for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 5 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
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Philosophical Themes in Star Trek: Discovery, Episodes 1 and 2. Fresh on the heels of the premier of Star Trek: Discovery, we discuss Discovery's 23rd-century social and political commentary on our 21st-century world today.
Property Ownership in *Star Trek*. We discuss the philosophy and economics of property ownership in 24th-century Federation society.
Voyager Season 5 - Essential Trek Philosophy. We discuss ennui (boredom) in the season 5 opener "Night" and our recommendations for Essential Trek Philosophy from Voyager season 5.
Star Trek Philosophy of Education. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss 24th century philosophy of education in Star Trek.
Narratives and Metanarratives in Star Trek. Hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss the use of narratives and metanarratives, or the grand unifying narratives, of the Star Trek universe.
Pen Pals. 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," interpreting the Prime Directive, and 24th-century ham radio in space.
Enterprise Season 2 - Essential Trek Philosophy. 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.
Future Human Cultural Evolution with Patrick Devlin. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison are joined by Meta Treks associate producer Patrick Devlin to discuss cultural progression in the Star Trek universe.
Cardassian Virtue Ethics. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss uniquely Cardassian character traits and what we can learn about our own human natures from the Cardassians in the Star Trek universe.
"Rapture" and Altered States of Consciousness. Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss ineffable moments of insight and clarity, duck-rabbit Gestalt shifts, the ethics of medical intervention, and the power of positive thinking.
The Original Series Season 2 - Essential Trek Philosophy. Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling continue their philosophical retrospective of Star Trek with their top choices for "Essential Trek Philosophy" from season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series.
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 Søren Kierkegaard and the characters from Star Trek who exemplify Kierkegaard's three "Stages on Life's Way."
Exploration and Expanding Knowledge. Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling explore the underlying assumption of the Star Trek worldview that the pursuit of knowledge is intrinsically valuable and worth the risks inherent to exploration of the unknown.
"Birthright," Parts I and II. Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss the parallels between Lieutenant Worf and the Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, Klingon cultural identity, and the significance of Lt. Commander Data's ability to dream.
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.
The Definition of Life. 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.
Cloaking Devices and the Ring of Gyges. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling discuss the ethics of invisibility, from the Ring of Gyges in Plato's Republic to Romulan cloaking devices in Star Trek.
DS9 Season 6 - Essential Trek Philosophy with Duncan Barrett, Part 2. Zachary and Mike continue their discussion with author Duncan Barrett about their top picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 6 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
DS9 Season 6 - Essential Trek Philosophy with Duncan Barrett, Part 1. In this first part of a two-part episode, Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling are joined by author Duncan Barrett to discuss Essential Trek Philosophy from DS9 season 6.
Defying the Badmirals. 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!
Dimensions. Hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling are joined by Trek.fm Patreon manager and host of Melodic Treks and Warp Five, Brandon-Shea Mutala, to discuss the physics, the philosophy, and the geometry of dimensions in the Star Trek universe.
"Sacred Ground" and Religious Explanations. What happens when a scientist has a religious experience not fully explainable by science? Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss faith in science and openness to alternative modes of explanation.