"The Measure of a Man" Line-by-Line
- Thread starter CoveTom
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PICARD: You see, he's met two of your three criteria for sentience, so what if he meets the third - consciousness - in even the smallest degree...what is he then? I don't know. Do you?
(to Riker) Do you?
(to Phillipa) Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer. Your Honour, the courtroom is a crucible. In it we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product, the truth for all time.
Now, sooner or later, this man or others like him will succeed in replicating Commander Data. And the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of a people we are, what he is destined to be. It will reach far beyond this courtroom and this one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom, expanding them for some, savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him and all who come after him to servitude and slavery? Your Honour, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life. Well, there it sits...waiting.
You wanted a chance to make law. Well, here it is...make it a good one.
(to Riker) Do you?
(to Phillipa) Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer. Your Honour, the courtroom is a crucible. In it we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product, the truth for all time.
Now, sooner or later, this man or others like him will succeed in replicating Commander Data. And the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of a people we are, what he is destined to be. It will reach far beyond this courtroom and this one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom, expanding them for some, savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him and all who come after him to servitude and slavery? Your Honour, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life. Well, there it sits...waiting.
You wanted a chance to make law. Well, here it is...make it a good one.
Phillipa: It sits there looking at me, and I don't know what it is. This case has dealt with metaphysics, with questions best left to saints and philosophers. I'm neither competent nor qualified to answer those. But I've got to make a ruling, to try to speak to the future. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have all been dancing around the basic issue. Does Data have a soul? I don't know that he has. I don't know that I have! But I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lieutenant Commander Data has the freedom to choose.
Picard: You say he's met two of your criteria for sentientce, what if he meest the third? Consciousness in even the smallest degree. What is he then? I don't know! Do you?
(Turns to Riker) Do you?
(turns to Louvois) Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer. Your honor the courtroom is a crucible. In it, we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product, the truth for all time. Now sooner or later, this man or tohers like him will succeed in replicating Commander Data.And the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of people we are and what he is destined to be. Are you preapred to condemn him and all who come after him, to servitude and slavery. Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, well THERE IT SITS....waiting. You wanted a chance to make law, here it is. Make it a good one.
(Turns to Riker) Do you?
(turns to Louvois) Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer. Your honor the courtroom is a crucible. In it, we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product, the truth for all time. Now sooner or later, this man or tohers like him will succeed in replicating Commander Data.And the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of people we are and what he is destined to be. Are you preapred to condemn him and all who come after him, to servitude and slavery. Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, well THERE IT SITS....waiting. You wanted a chance to make law, here it is. Make it a good one.
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