The Most Moral Character...

[Farscape One]

The franchise has among the most honorable, courageous, ethical, and moral stories, ideas, and questions in scifi. The characters, in particular, show a wide range of morality and ethics that make us think, and challenge us to not only be a better version of ourselves, but the best humans we can possibly become.

When I was growing up, STAR TREK was a huge part of my life. As an adult, so much of it has stayed with me. I am a huge scifi fan, and I have always felt that if I ever had children, STAR TREK is what I'd show them to help mold them into strong moral and ethical adults.

I thought of this subject while having a conversation with my wife about some of my favorite characters, so now I ask all of you.

Who do you think is the most moral, ethical person on STAR TREK?

 

[Kilana2]

I voted for Spock and McCoy.
Spock stands for IDIC. And McCoy never gets tired of pointing out ethical dilemmas to Kirk.
They are the best friends and fellow officers a Captain could wish for.

 

[Spock's Barber]

I voted for Other.

I thought 'Lazarus A' was a moral man. He sacrificed his life without hesitation for the safety of 2 universes.

 

[Pauln6]

I'd say Chapel, she's pretty selfless and is willing to call others out on their bull. Even though she is willing to obey the chain of command, she knows how to flounce out of a room to let EVERYBODY know exactly how she feels about it.

 

[Phaser Two]

Probably a three-way tie between Scott, Spock, and Kirk. McCoy seems pretty ethical as well, though. In fact, I'm not thinking of too many episodes where ethics are trampled upon, unless we're thinking of the oft-fractured Prime Directive, or violations of orders from incompetent TOS admirals that make no sense.

 

[Terok Nor]

Spock

 

[Commishsleer]

I'd say Chapel, she's pretty selfless and is willing to call others out on their bull. Even though she is willing to obey the chain of command, she knows how to flounce out of a room to let EVERYBODY know exactly how she feels about it.

What about Chapel crushing on Spock, while she had a fiance. Doesn't sound very moral to me.

 

[DonIago]

We can't control our feelings; we can only control what we do with them.

 

[Commishsleer]

We can't control our feelings; we can only control what we do with them.

She threw herself at Spock most of the time so thats not controlling herself.
Admittedly most of the throwing was after her fiance was dead. Which then just made it embarressing,

 

[Sareesataka]

I voted McCoy.

He will usually do what he thinks is right. He is governed by his emotions, and duty bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. He is often the moral compass for Kirk.

Examples of when McCoy's morality was at the forefront:
-In Mirror, Mirror, McCoy requested to some time in order to treat Mirror Spock, even though it may jeopardize their chances to getting back to their own universe.
-In Wrath of Khan, McCoy questioned the moral implications of using the Genesis device.

Instances when McCoy's morality might be questioned:
-In The Final Voyage, McCoy had to euthanize his father. The morality of such an act is debatable.
-In The Voyage Home, he and Scotty gave someone the formula to transparent aluminum, thus possibly altering the timeline.
-In The Man Trap, he killed the salt vampire, the sole survivor of a sentient life form...

 

[C57D]

I too vote McCoy, he is the moral, ethical compass for Kirk (where Spock is the logical, pragmatic one). He speaks for the good in Humanity and for the best good for all.
He is not perfect, because he is only human, but he is always true to himself - brave, honest, compassionate, genuine, down to earth, imaginative, ethical, true and sprited.
If I could choose someone to be my moral compass it would always be McCoy!

 

[Farscape One]

I voted McCoy.

He will usually do what he thinks is right. He is governed by his emotions, and duty bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. He is often the moral compass for Kirk.

Examples of when McCoy's morality was at the forefront:
-In Mirror, Mirror, McCoy requested to some time in order to treat Mirror Spock, even though it may jeopardize their chances to getting back to their own universe.
-In Wrath of Khan, McCoy questioned the moral implications of using the Genesis device.

Instances when McCoy's morality might be questioned:
-In The Final Voyage, McCoy had to euthanize his father. The morality of such an act is debatable.
-In The Voyage Home, he and Scotty gave someone the formula to transparent aluminum, thus possibly altering the timeline.
-In The Man Trap, he killed the salt vampire, the sole survivor of a sentient life form...

Regarding euthanising his dad... his father may have asked him for that. When faced with a terminal illness, bedbound and in constant pain, I think it is perfectly legitimate to assist in their passing. The 'do no harm' aspect of the Oath, in that scenario, I feel is to help alleviate the pain, even though it will terminate their life. No one can know what that feels like until they actually live through it, so I give McCoy a full pass on that. And having seen similar situations to loved ones in my own life, I feel it is a humane thing.

 

[Pauln6]

She threw herself at Spock most of the time so thats not controlling herself.
Admittedly most of the throwing was after her fiance was dead. Which then just made it embarressing,

She didn't throw herself at Spock at all. She simply confessed that she had feelings for him and if you listen to her dialogue she was as much concerned about him repressing his feelings and the damage that might cause and as it happens, she was correct.

I thought McCoy was a notch below this because he really does let his emotions get the better of him and this can sway his judgment sometimes. You see it in the argument he has with Kirk in Corbomite Manoeuvre and some of the hurtful things he says to Spock.

 

[Commishsleer]

She didn't throw herself at Spock at all. She simply confessed that she had feelings for him and if you listen to her dialogue she was as much concerned about him repressing his feelings and the damage that might cause and as it happens, she was correct.

Chapel is always throwing herself at Spock . Its only the episodes where she's not that I can respect her.
As to her morality. In "What are little girls made of" she asked Kirk not to make her choose between duty and her fiance so I'm going to say her morality was in question there (understandably though).
If we include the animated episodes then she conspired with Mudd to drug Spock to love her. I really don't understand why she wasn't up on charges for that. Actually possibly my favourite Chapel moment occurs in that episode when at the end she tells Spock to get lost after he makes a smug remark. Yes at last.

I never minded Chapel having a crush but it was the way they did it. It was so embarrassing. If she had a secret crush it would have been so much better. Actually better none at all and that goes for Rand, Crusher and Troi. The female regulars do not need to have unrequited crushes on the male leads.

 

[TribbleFeeder]

The female regulars do not need to have unrequited crushes on the male leads.

And what about the men?? Kirk had a crush on pretty much everyone, so did Bashir in DS9, and Quark, and Tom Paris in Voyager. Was none of that just as embarrassing?

 

[Nyotarules]

Sulu's plants

 

[Nyotarules]

I never minded Chapel having a crush but it was the way they did it. It was so embarrassing. If she had a secret crush it would have been so much better. Actually better none at all and that goes for Rand, Crusher and Troi. The female regulars do not need to have unrequited crushes on the male leads.

I found the secret crushes a bit high schoolish, these are adults living together in a confined space far from home for 5 years or more, Most humans meet their life partners at work and the crew live where they work. The ladies having a few long term or short term flings, affairs or relationships with a fellow crew member shows they are normal beings. TOS treating Sulu and Uhura to a life of sexless celibacy on screen was embarrassing. I'm surprised they gave him a daughter in the Prime movies, probably adopted her all by himself. Heaven forbid he sexually reproduced!

 

[1001001]

I found the secret crushes a bit high schoolish, these are adults living together in a confined space far from home for 5 years or more, Most humans meet their life partners at work and the crew live where they work. The ladies having a few long term or short term flings, affairs or relationships with a fellow crew member shows they are normal beings. TOS treating Sulu and Uhura to a life of sexless celibacy on screen was embarrassing. I'm surprised they gave him a daughter in the Prime movies, probably adopted her all by himself. Heaven forbid he sexually reproduced!

I had assumed, from what we saw in Beyond, that she was adopted by them both, but come to think of it, there's nothing on screen that tells us anything about where she came from. Could have been a previous relationship, could have been a surrogate, could have been an adoption...?

 

[Nyotarules]

I had assumed, from what we saw in Beyond, that she was adopted by them both, but come to think of it, there's nothing on screen that tells us anything about where she came from. Could have been a previous relationship, could have been a surrogate, could have been an adoption...?

Coulda, shouda, woulda .....
Like Chekov and Uhura if its Demora she was born years too early (for some reason the JJVerse annoys me with its timeline screwups...er changes)

 

[Kor]

Fort me, it's hard to pinpoint one person. I feel that the best decisions come from the interactions of Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

Kor