Well that would be a form of population control, in the mind of Landru's system.
The Prime Directive on this show
- Thread starter The Overlord
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The question would be: since they are essentially human, is it right to leave them in that state?
Are you arguing against the prime directive?
Aliens don't like being called Human.
See what happens if you bungle an Asians ethnicity.
Not good.
See what happens if you bungle an Asians ethnicity.
Not good.
Not sure what you're referring to.
I've always argued against the Prime Directive. At least, the interpretation that makes any help any evil thing to do.
In the case of Landru, these are the descendants of the descendants of the descendants, who had no say in its implementation. Add to that, there was an underground attempting to overthrow Landru, so I tend to think Kirk made the right decision.
They're called human in the episode. So, likely, they were transplanted from Earth by the Preservers long ago (or vice versa).
Then you must hate it when Picard advocates doing nothing when entire planets die.
Or STID when Kirk gets demoted for helping people not to go extinct.
In the terms of a "pre-warp" society, a fundamental rule of a superior society not interfering with the natural development of an inferior or growing society must be enforced. Which is why I liked TNG's episode "First Contact".
But in the case of stagnant societies like those presented in "Archons" and "Apple", non-interference should be on a "case-by-case" basis. Much more deliberation would have taken place at the Federation Council level than shown (but that would've made for boring TV).
Have you ever told an Australian that she sounds and acts like a New Zealander?
Try it some time.
Enjoy the feeling of your testicles becoming detached.
Being stagnant is not necessarily bad. When we'll reach a state so close to perfection that any change would be for the worse then being stagnant would be the thing to aim for. The thing is that we've never been anywhere near an ideal society so we of course can't really imagine.
Must be because of all the blood in their heads for hanging upside down all day.
No, provided that that society's needs are being met, and resources are being replenished without waste or loss.
But "superior interference"? Without deliberation?
As much as I enjoyed the episodes where Kirk talked/beat a computer to death, the ramifications of what he did always stuck in the back of my mind.
Those societies may have been stagnant, but they were (mostly) perpetual.
They could have been awoken at any point over the next ten thousand years.
They could have been awoken at any point over the next ten thousand years.
I dislike both of those instances.
But, there are ramifications to doing nothing as well. More generations of humans/aliens living in a world where they never grow nor learn, all so they can serve a machine.
The PD is an integral part of Star Trek and honestly, imo, the show didn't really hit its potential until the TNG Series aired. I hope Discovery follows the PD. Also, I hope they use similar (but unique for the series) uniforms and lighting. I don't want another Enterprise fiasco.
Just like Kahn and his people at the end of STID. They're not dead, they're just put into storage for the next several... billions of years!
That is Dr. McCoy's argument in "Apple".
SPOCK: Doctor, you insist on applying human standards to non-human cultures. I remind you that humans are only a tiny minority in this galaxy.
MCCOY: There are certain absolutes, Mister Spock, and one of them is the right of humanoids to a free and unchained environment, the right to have conditions which permit growth.
SPOCK: Another is their right to choose a system which seems to work for them.
MCCOY: Jim, you're not just going to stand by and be blinded to what's going on here. These are humanoids, intelligent. They need to advance and grow. Don't you understand what my readings indicate? There's been no progress here in at least ten thousand years. This isn't life. It's stagnation.
SPOCK: Doctor, these people are healthy and they are happy. What ever you choose to call it, this system works, despite your emotional reaction to it.
Feeling uncomfortable with "superior interference", I'm almost inclined to agree with Spock.
How can they be "happy" when they've only ever experienced one way of living and never having the knowledge or choice of anything else. It is one thing to want to have a certain type of society, but when you are born into something and never have a choice for anything else, that would classify as a torturous stagnation in my book.
Eve not taking a bite of the apple would've led to a special kind of Hell.
I am not sure I agree with you about "The Apple". For all intents and purposes the people were happy. I am guessing that once they find out that they are growing old and feeble and getting sick and forced to toil all day for food and some of then start dying, they won't be so happy.
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