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How come humans are a leading power?

To begin with I'm not convinced the Vulcans are actually (genetically) more intelligent. More analytical and better trained in certain mental faculties, yes.

But in Enterprise we see that humans are catching up quickly with Vulcans.
From The Forge

SOVAL: We don't know what to do about humans. Of all the species we've made contact with, yours is the only one we can't define. You have the arrogance of Andorians, the stubborn pride of Tellarites. One moment, you're as driven by your emotions as Klingons, and the next, you confound us by suddenly embracing logic.
FORREST :I'm sure those qualities are found in every species.
SOVAL: Not in such confusing abundance.
FORREST: Ambassador. Are Vulcans afraid of humans? Why?
SOVAL: Because there is one species you remind us of.
FORREST: Vulcans.
SOVAL: We had our wars, Admiral, just as humans did. Our planet was devastated, our civilisation nearly destroyed. Logic saved us. But it took almost fifteen hundred years for us to rebuild our world and travel to the stars. You humans did the same in less than a century. There are those on the High Command who wonder what humans would achieve in the century to come, and they don't like the answer.

There are other hints in Enterprise that humans are progressing so fast because they are less restricted by logic, love exploration, and rather than only investigating strictly logical courses of action, also use their imagination, also in areas such as scientific research.

Humans are the jack-of-all-trades. Superior in no specific aspects, except perhaps adaptability. But they don't have any apparent weaknesses, such as being restrained by logic too much, or by a warrior culture that inhibits other aspects, or a society that prioritizes latinum over everything, or ...
 
Lots of species we've seen have a gimmick - they live longer or have exceptional biology in some way - and I think part of that, along with some truly excellent timing, played a role in Human dominance of the Federation, and also by comparison, why the Klingon Empire got so big as well.

It's about sex/reproduction (yes, really) and it's about timing of United Earth's rise to prominence in local space. Hear me out.

Let's go back to the time of Enterprise NX-01 in 2155 and consider local space at large. Humanity was largely Earth and Earth-orbit based, but had substantial infrastructure on the Moon, a few thousand colonists on Mars (that was in the middle of terra forming) and a base at Jupiter. A couple dozen supply ships ran long duration / slow speed cargo runs. There was presumably a settlement at Alpha Centauri but humanity was mostly bottled up inside Earth-Moon orbit. This is true of almost other species out there at the time, with a few notable exceptions.

The Vulcans and the Andorians were the two most prominent and advanced local space powers, with the Tellarites a somewhat distant third. Each controlled the entirety of their home system and several other nearby systems. But both kept their fleets close to home because the Galaxy was quite dangerous at that time. The Vulcans had the best technology and best ships. The Andorians were a little behind them but seem to have more ships. But neither species did much besides guard their territory. The Tellarites were presumably on this level too, with ships that were a little slower and a little less advanced, but still well ahead of United Earth.

This exists in contrast with the Denobulans, who were a bit further away from what the "core" of the Federation would be in a few years. They had advanced space technology for many years, a martial history to them (a series of interstellar wars) and a huge population. But they only lightly cooperated with interstellar politics. They sent representatives to various functions and made their presence known, but despite their technology, which was far more advanced than United Earth, also stayed within their own star system, very much like United Earth and unlike the Vulcans or Andorians. The Denobulans represent what would be fairly typical for future (but not founding) Federation worlds - despite their participation, their home system is where they stuck to.

So what was the advantage of humans? I think it is timing, political necessity combined with the nature of human reproduction (seriously). The Vulcan race is lives on average around 200 years. They go into Pon-farr every 7 years. The Vulcan population seems to not grow all that quickly. They don't suffer a lot of natural deaths, but also don't naturally multiply. They seem to exist at exactly population replacement. And we know from Star Trek (2009) that destroying Kelvinverse Vulcan left about 10,000 survivors of the species, which meant that at least in that time line, 20 years after the divergence, one planet supported almost the entire race. Then there's the Andorians who have very complicated mating rituals involving 4 sexes. That would mean population replacement would require twice as many "inputs" to generate the same "output". It would be very difficult to sustain such a population, much less grow it, especially if Andorians lived as long as human. Some of the books have dealt with this. There just aren't that many Andorians. They live on a moon of an Ice Giant even they describe as harsh and they evolved there.

Humans, by contrast, live for about 120 years by the 24th century, and probably around 90 on Average in 2155. Compared to Vulcans, the window of time in which reproduction can occur is very, very wide. Compared to Andorians, it's simpler. And we've seen the results of it: a lot of two and three children human families in Star Trek. A lot of children in general, whereas it seems many Vulcan families have one child. Compared to Vulcans, humans are also more sexually gregarious... in many ways closer to Denobulans than anyone else. As we see in the 24th century, they can interbreed fairly easily (with medical help sometimes) with almost any other humanoid species and that those species don't or can't interbreed with each other.

What I think it comes down to is this: in 22nd and 23rd centuries (likely continuing into the 24th), the human population exploded. A population of 7 billion in 2155 (fewer than we have today, accounting for projected decline in birth rates as predicted by the UN) growing at a rate of 1.1% (the rate of growth in 2021), would grow to 21 billion by 2255. By 2355, it's 63 billion. If you increase the rate of growth (assuming assist by technology, needs of colonization, social changes) to 2.1%, there are 55 billion humans in 2255 and 446 billion humans by 2355.

I think the human population grew to be absolutely colossal simply because, well, humans reproduce far easier and more often than Vulcans and Andorians. So why didn't other species gain such prominence in the Federation? Humans were first. United Earth was technologically and politically behind the Vulcans and Andorians in 2155, but well ahead of many future Federation members who would join over the next 200 years. Other species who joined in the Federation in the latter part of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th century would be playing catch up to an institution that had a massive number of human beings operating at every level of it from the start. And they simply may have had smaller populations to begin with. According to Memory Alpha, the Trill joined the Federation in 2285 with a population of just 650 million. That would be about 1/28th of the human population at that time. They just didn't get into interstellar affairs early enough with a big enough population. Another word would be "momentum".

Another species had that kind of "momentum" by the way: the Klingons. Like humans they reproduce easily. Like Vulcans they live a very long time (though few make it to that age). And like the Vulcans, Andorians, and Humans from a certain perspective, they were active in interstellar affairs early. And they built what was, in 2155, the largest known local Empire with technology more advanced than the Vulcans in some ways. And by 2375, they had the second largest empire in local space. They also fielded huge, single species military forces and took enormous causalities. I think the Klingons successful for the same reason: they got "on the scene" early, and they had big families with lots of kids, who in turn had big families with lots of kids. It wouldn't surprise me if by the late 24th century there were hundreds of billions of Klingons in the empire either.

You combine the above human population growth with the fact that the Andorians, Tellarites and Vulcans only mutually trusted Humanity, and you got the makings of essentially perpetual human dominance of the Federation because later joiners - most of whom will be like Denobula and keep close to home in any event - will never catch up in sheer numbers, if they have anything approach it to begin with.
 
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Humans are the jack-of-all-trades
The original meaning and saying for the "Jack of All-Trades" quote:

The complete saying was originallyA jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Formerly intended as a compliment, the phrase means that a person is a generalist rather than a specialist, versatile and adept at many things.”

This is the problem with our habit of shortening things. We don’t understand their original intention anymore. We shouldn’t ignore the old adage but the new one (in this case, at least).
 
Because humans put exploring and helping others as a priority in their desire to go into space. It wasn't just about making political allies and self defense though they were not so dumb as to not know those were important things as well, hence the need for a Section 31 and ships armed with weapons. As far as we know the Federation has never been in a war in which they were the first to start it. The Prime DIrective and how much they followed it also was important because they basically handcuffed themselves in term of how much they can interfere in the state of affairs of other governments.
 
The original meaning and saying for the "Jack of All-Trades" quote:

The complete saying was originallyA jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Formerly intended as a compliment, the phrase means that a person is a generalist rather than a specialist, versatile and adept at many things.”

This is the problem with our habit of shortening things. We don’t understand their original intention anymore. We shouldn’t ignore the old adage but the new one (in this case, at least).

To be honest, that 'old adage' conveys my intention. Which makes me suppose that I'm not getting the exact shade of meaning the new adage (as you describe it) has. I would like to learn though, as English isn't my first language nor do I live in a country where it is. Is it nowadays merely used in the connotation of ' a person with skills in many areas' without the added limitation 'without truly being a master in one of those' ?

Ironically, the wikipedia page seems to suggest that 'a jack of all trades' is the original expression, that the 'master of none' is a later addition, and the 'but oftentimes better than a master of one' is newer still.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none
 
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To be honest, that 'old adage' conveys my intention. Which makes me suppose that I'm not getting the exact shade of meaning the new adage (as you describe it) has. I would like to learn though, as English isn't my first language nor do I live in a country where it is. Is it nowadays merely used in the connotation of ' a person with skills in many areas' without the added limitation 'without truly being a master in one of those' ?

Ironically, the wikipedia page seems to suggest that 'a jack of all trades' is the original expression, that the 'master of none' is a later addition, and the 'but oftentimes better than a master of one' is newer still.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none
The "Original Adage" is what I listed.

The current vernaculer that society uses is what is commonly used and is not accurate because society paraphrased it and it has lost it's original meaning.
 
Another species had that kind of "momentum" by the way: the Klingons. Like humans they reproduce easily. And like the Vulcans, Andorians, and Humans from a certain perspective, they were active in interstellar affairs early. And they built what was, in 2155, the largest known local Empire with technology more advanced than the Vulcans in some ways. And by 2375, they had the second largest empire in local space. They also fielded huge, single species military forces and took enormous causalities. I think the Klingons successful for the same reason: they got "on the scene" early, and they had big families with lots of kids, who in turn had big families with lots of kids. It wouldn't surprise me if by the late 24th century there were hundreds of billions of Klingons in the empire either.
As you state above, even though Klingons live twice as long as humans and have a high birth rate, they embrace the warrior path which leads to a high death rate of their most productive members of their race. Hence, a high birth rate is needed to replace these loses plus it leads to a smaller aged population. So, maybe the Klingon Empire isn't as large as we think. :klingon:
 
The original meaning and saying for the "Jack of All-Trades" quote:

The complete saying was originallyA jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Formerly intended as a compliment, the phrase means that a person is a generalist rather than a specialist, versatile and adept at many things.”

This is the problem with our habit of shortening things. We don’t understand their original intention anymore. We shouldn’t ignore the old adage but the new one (in this case, at least).
You'd think it would be pretty evident, given what a Jack is... the lowest ranking face card in the deck, synonymous with a knave or page in medieval times.
 
Babylon 5 tried to subvert this with humans the lowest on the totem pole of space powers. Yet, they still were the ones with a "special destiny" and the only ones who could bring all the other races together.

Of course, like Trek, it's a show where we're the focus because... well, aliens aren't writing or creating our fiction.

Or are they?

Fun fact: Someone tried to recruit me into a cult saying that Star Trek exists because of real aliens... :guffaw:


Because God chose us.

But what does god need with humanity?
 
Babylon 5 tried to subvert this with humans the lowest on the totem pole of space powers. Yet, they still were the ones with a "special destiny" and the only ones who could bring all the other races together.

Arguably, they tried the same in Enterpise. Show the humans as the new kids on the block, with inferior technology and yet with the Makings of Greatness already apparent, even if those stubborn Vulcans refuse to acknowledge it, and culminating in the formation of the Federation.

Of course, like Trek, it's a show where we're the focus because... well, aliens aren't writing or creating our fiction.

I've wondered more than once how the Klingons would have portrayed the human species from their perspecive had they written the Star Trek universe. Or the Ferengi, Or the ....


But what does god need with humanity?

We're his 'starship', the vehicle He chooses to let those heathen alien species choose one of the three D's He so generously offers them from the bottomless kindness of his loving heart. To wit :

- accepting the one true Doctrine we bring, or
- accept Domination (by us humans, evidently), or
- Death.

(Come to think of it, that's pretty much what we see happen to species around the Federation. ... they either get accepted into the Federation where they're dominated by humans (Vulcans), or they exist next to the Federation but get into some kind of decay Klingons devolve from a superior empire to some second-rate empire, Cardassia is nearly destroyed, The only major species with long-term relations with the Federation that escapes this fate till the end of the TNG era seem to be the Romulans. Then, by the end of DS9, they get into closer relations with the Federation and within 20 years, their home planet is destroyed. etc.), or they start accepting their values (Ferengi), or they are beaten by the Federation (Borg, Dominion),
 
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I’m going to say that the Sol system was metal rich.

Psyche alone has the metal to build every ship you have ever seen in all of sci-fi.
 
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