Does Data have a soul?

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by eskyliz, Jun 16, 2013.

  1. Kemaiku

    Kemaiku Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2004
    Location:
    Northern Ireland
    The real questions are, does B-4 have one? and if so, does he now possess both is and Data's?

    :p
     
  2. Captain McBain

    Captain McBain Captain Captain

    Data surely doesn't have a soul. That is, if by 'soul' you're referring to an immaterial part of his essence that will survive his physical death. Dr. Soong was brilliant, but I doubt he could have created a soul for Data.
     
  3. Kevman7987

    Kevman7987 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    May 20, 2013
    Location:
    Erie, PA, USA
    In my opinion, yes, Data has a soul. And no, B-4 does not have Data's soul too now. He has his own.
     
  4. Admiral Buzzkill

    Admiral Buzzkill Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2001
    No, Data no more has a soul than anyone else does.
     
  5. Captain McBain

    Captain McBain Captain Captain

    What proof do you have to support your position?
     
  6. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2012
    He's Admiral Buzzkill, what do you expect. Despite numerous examples provided in this thread alone of people having some sort of lifeforce that carries their personality and consciousness. In the Star Trek universe.
     
  7. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2012
    Location:
    Shangri-La
    Traditionally the burden of proof is on stating something -does- exist, not that it doesn't.
     
  8. MacLeod

    MacLeod Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2001
    Location:
    Great Britain
    Teaching religon as a whole is not wrong, it is only wrong if they are trying to teach religious beliefs as part of science fact (as we understand it today).

    People want to believe the Earth is only 6000 years old, or creationism, intelligent design etc.. fine, but keep it in religious classes not science classes.
     
  9. Nightdiamond

    Nightdiamond Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2009
    Location:
    California
    That's true, but at what point after Data is shut down does his essence or "neural energy" leaves his positronic net and go to some afterlife that everybody else goes to?

    Does he even have "neural energy" because his brain is mechanical??

    Does anyone ever get the feeling that Trek wants its cake and to eat it too? It's like Trek is basically atheist and materialist, but wants there to be a higher power, but can't admit it.

    Like why is it shown being so easy for alien cultures to believe in the supernatural, but so hard for the average human to even admit believing in a higher power?
     
  10. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2012
    Peer pressure from people, such as appearing in this thread.
     
  11. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 10, 2005
    Location:
    Confederation of Earth
    I interpret that episode like this: The very fact that Neelix was able to be brought back is proof that he was never dead in the first place. So the only way he could have moved on to his afterlife was if he was truly dead. They brought him back, so therefore, he was never REALLY dead.
     
  12. Captain Clark Terrell

    Captain Clark Terrell Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2013
    Location:
    The Captain's Table
    That happens on how you define dead. If you mean "pulseless," it's possible that one could be resuscitated if help arrives quickly enough. If you mean that one's soul has passed into another realm of existence, that's another matter altogether.

    --Sran
     
  13. Portal

    Portal Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    May 10, 2013
    I think Data might be in heaven right now, body and soul. He was a saint afterall.
     
  14. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 10, 2005
    Location:
    Confederation of Earth
  15. Captain Clark Terrell

    Captain Clark Terrell Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2013
    Location:
    The Captain's Table
    His head is buried in a mine. One copy of it anyway.

    --Sran
     
  16. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2010
    Location:
    publiusr
    In some ways you can say that only Data has a soul. I can't transmit my mind/essence/personality/sapience out of this meat bucket.

    And Cavil from NuBSG thought he had it bad.
     
  17. FFunctionalData

    FFunctionalData Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Location:
    Brooklyn
    since they are all atheist in the star trek universe (humans are anyway) I would have to say no he does not have a soul.
     
  18. doctorfoto

    doctorfoto Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2001
    I say if the Iron Giant has a soul then Data has one too. :)
     
  19. MikeH92467

    MikeH92467 Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2001
    Location:
    Boise, ID
    Does a dog have a soul? How about a cockroach?
     
  20. Captain Clark Terrell

    Captain Clark Terrell Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2013
    Location:
    The Captain's Table
    I believe that dogs have souls. Cockroaches never die, so the question isn't relevant to them.

    --Sran