Trek and the Scientist

[david g]

Rewatching TOS's "The Ultimate Computer," about Dr Daystrom's amazing computer that can run a starship and Kirk's frustrations with having a computer take over his job, I am struck by the negative portrayal of the scientific genius on the show. Is an animosity twds scientists in particular endemic to all the Star Trek series? Are there any truly positive scientists in any Trek series?

If not, this is a strange fact about a series that offers such a hopeful view of the future made possible *by* advancements in science...

 

[GeorgeKirk]

david g said:
Are there any truly positive scientists in any Trek series?

Umm . . . Mr. Spock?

Really, "Ultimate Computer" was just one episode. Star Trek has never taken an anti-technology stance. Sure, Kirk made a fairly regular habit of talking culture-controlling computers into blowing themselves up, but such stories were usually an allegory against Communist or totalitarian systems of government.

Modern Trek, of course, just loved technology and science. Of course, they usually stomped all over science when the time came to cook up some last-minute technobabble bullshit to save the day, but at least they tried (usually). Modern Trek shows even employed a science consultant, IIRC.

Bottom line: calling Star Trek anti-science-and-technology is like calling Knight Rider anti-automobile.

 

[T J]

Trek has done many episodes about scientists who have allowed the work to blind them or take greater risks that necessary. Not letting something become so important that it risks others is a good lesson.