Why do people die in Star Trek?
- Thread starter PhaserLightShow
- Start date
That's a good point about characters' simply not desiring immortality. And we have seen that the human lifespan is much longer in the 24th century than it is today.
I can imagine how enriching and satisfying that would be in a utopian world where people work to better themselves and the rest of humanity, as opposed to today's reality of being a wage slave for decades, barely making ends meet from week to week, and then suddenly croaking one day on the bus ride home.
Kor
I'd imagine having decades longer and being able to make the most of all of it would be satisfying enough to most people in the Federation. Trying to artificially extend their lives probably doesn't even occur to them, there's not much point.
And in Starfleet, I think they know how dangerous their duties will be, and that the ship needs it's resources for the living crew. They wouldn't want the time and energy being wasted on bringing them back when it's better needed elsewhere.
I don't believe in souls (so Data and Riker don't have souls, and neither does anyone else). I believe that a person is the sum of his physical parts (atoms). Nothing more. I am an Atheist.
@PhaserLightShow
Does atheism necessarily preclude metaphysical discourse? How about Immanuel Kant?
If an exact duplicate was made of Lieutenant Carey after he died, down to the minutest subatomic detail and with all of the same memories, would it really be the same person? These things merit discussion.
Kor
If an exact duplicate was made of Lieutenant Carey after he died, down to the minutest subatomic detail and with all of the same memories, would it really be the same person? These things merit discussion.
Kor
Well not really, since they occupy two different points in space, they always perceive the world slightly differently, and will go off to lead separate lives, have different experiences and interactions that will shape all the subsequent moments of their life.
They will quickly become two unique individuals, more like identical twins.
They will quickly become two unique individuals, more like identical twins.
I think it would be the same person. As I previously indicated, Admiral @Kor, I don't believe in souls or spirits.
As I said, I believe a person is the sum of his atoms, particles, etc. (you name it)
With the same memories, he would have the same motivation (memories of that motivation and the same memories that lead him/her to that motivation). The way I see it, memories dictate your intentions and the rest of the body dictate how many of your intentions can become actions (the rest of the body also carries out those actions). Any reasons why Lieutenant Carey would not be the same person with the circumstances you noted?
@PhaserLightShow
@PhaserLightShow
You don't need to believe in souls to recognise that a copy and the original are two different things. Let's say we make an identical copy of you. Then it turns out that one of you needs to be killed (Captain Janeway decrees it.) Would you care whether it is you or your copy who is to be killed?
You don't need to believe in souls to recognise that a copy and the original are two different things. Let's say we make an identical copy of you. Then it turns out that one of you needs to be killed (Captain Janeway decrees it.) Would you care whether it is you or your copy who is to be killed?
What if Lt. Carey was materialized into two identical beings in a freak transporter accident? (Not one weak version and one strong version, or one good and one evil, but truly identical in every conceivable way)
Or how about a whole army of Lt. Careys? Which one of the identical Careys would have the right to assume the identity of Lt. Carey? If Lt. Carey had a significant other, which Lt. Carey would continue the relationship?
I'm suddenly having flashbacks to the Tom Cruise movie Oblivion for some reason...
Kor
Or how about a whole army of Lt. Careys? Which one of the identical Careys would have the right to assume the identity of Lt. Carey? If Lt. Carey had a significant other, which Lt. Carey would continue the relationship?
I'm suddenly having flashbacks to the Tom Cruise movie Oblivion for some reason...
Kor
Which is really gross if you think about it. When you rematerialize, part of you may be from Ensign Jones morning dump.
That is an aspect of the future that I personally find both engaging and alien. It is quite interesting to consider the idea that instead of working so much, that people are pursing their passions or goals, rather than working in a manner current to contemporary society.
I wouldn't have to work for the materials for my cosplay-I could just make them and it would authentic
I wouldn't have to work for the materials for my cosplay-I could just make them and it would authentic
So? We are dealing within the metaphysics of the universe of Star Trek. And, regardless of philosophical framework, there is something unique about individuals, call it a soul, or quantum signature, or atomic space, or what-have-you. It is uniquely present, even if it can't be quantified, which is why it is a philosophical question, not a scientific one.
That was part of a DS9 episode as well. A man cloned himself, murdered it, and then framed Odo.
All that stuff from "waste extraction" has got to go somewhere...Which is really gross if you think about it. When you rematerialize, part of you may be from Ensign Jones morning dump.
Does that mean that when I transport is just removes all the waste material? No wonder we don't see any bathrooms.
Ha. I think it literally does if you go by the TNG Tech Manual. Everything on the ship is recycled, and there's a big tank full of goo that gets reconfigured by the replicators to make food. No wonder Joe Sisko's restaurant is always busy.I assumed it would feed into the replicator systems.
Excuse me a moment.
Kor
Considering the matter is probably taken apart on molecular level, I really don't see a problem with this. I am sure that here in the real world many of the carbon atoms and water molecules that comprised your breakfast today have been part of someone's faeces at some point during the five billion year history of Earth.I assumed it would feed into the replicator systems.
Excuse me a moment.
You're welcome.
Well yeah, exactly. The water we drink has passed through millions of organisms before it gets to us. By the 24th century, no one bats an eyelid. How else can you expect to sustain a crew of a thousand on a ship cut off from regular supply for potentially years at a time?
No. Because my thoughts would still exist.
Which Lt. Carey? Whichever was physically closest (nearest, I mean to say) to the significant other. If all the others died, whoever was still alive. And an army of Lt. Careys would be fine.
This thread (and its question) makes me ask another, related question. Why did Commander Bruce Maddox (TNG: "The Measure of a Man") not simply replicate Data instead of taking him apart. You could still have an army of Soong Android's, but without hurting Data.
@PhaserLightShow
