Am I a product of Star Trek (the original series)?
Out of boredom and nostalgia, I recently started watching Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS). I’ve never been much into Star Trek, its various iterations and fanfare. I do distinctly remember rushing after school, at around ages 6 or 7, to watch Star Trek in syndication (by that time) every Thursday. I recall many of the shows and can easily recite the opening lines.
Watching these shows again was incredible. Their messages of humanism, hope, and how principles can guide us through conflict, resonate with many of my current beliefs. So too does the commitment to “explore new worlds and seek out new life, new civilisations,” a basic tenet of a life I have lived, to date, in over a dozen countries. The dignified respect for diversity was certainly radical for the time and matches a general sensibility to cherish and celebrate our differences.
So, I was smitten.
So much so that I then tried to watch some of the other series. Ugh. They had no such resonance. The writing was hackneyed, the plots over sentimental, and the special effects garish at best. But wait, as compared to TOS?!?! The over-exposed colours and weird lighting? The huge plot gaps and jumps? The consistent silliness of Kirk’s dialogue? The whipsaw between war mongering and peace? But I loved it! I was transfixed!
I then wondered if it was simply how the show reflects some of the same issues we face today, including the use of AI (a regular theme ), the philosophy of peace, and other prescient aspects of the TOS.
So, I did what Spock might have done. I turned to the computer. The following includes my questions and ChatGPT’s responses.
Give me a brief on the prescience and philosophy of the original Star Trek series, from the use of AI to the philosophy of peace.
Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) has had a profound and lasting influence on how popular culture—and, by extension, political and technological discourse—conceives of peace, diplomacy, and the moral implications of technology. Though it aired in the 1960s, its legacy continues to shape how audiences and thinkers envision a just and technologically advanced future.
1. Peace as a Political and Ethical Ideal
A Future Without War
Star Trek posited that humanity could outgrow war, nationalism, and internal conflict—a radical idea during the Cold War and Vietnam era.
It imagined peace not as the absence of conflict, but as the result of moral evolution and collective responsibility.
The show consistently framed peace as a superior form of strength. Episodes like “Errand of Mercy” showed that militarism often fails where diplomacy succeeds—challenging dominant narratives of power and deterrence.
Federation as a Post-National Ideal
The United Federation of Planets represented a form of peaceful global (and interstellar) governance based on mutual respect, exploration, and cooperation.
This helped inspire real-world ideas about international cooperation, such as those embodied in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
2. Diplomacy and the Ethics of Engagement
Prime Directive as a Moral Anchor
The Prime Directive (non-interference in the internal affairs of less-developed civilizations) introduced a complex and often controversial principle of diplomatic restraint.
It offered a fictional analog to real-world debates around colonialism, humanitarian intervention, and development aid.
The show explored the tension between moral obligation and respect for sovereignty—a theme still relevant in international relations.
Empathy and Cross-Cultural Understanding
Many episodes (e.g., “The Devil in the Dark”) emphasized understanding the “other” rather than assuming hostility.
Diplomacy in Star Trek meant more than negotiation—it meant radical empathy, listening, and learning.
3. Moral Implications of Technology
Technology as a Tool, Not a Savior
While Star Trek portrayed a technologically advanced future, it never suggested that technology alone solves ethical or social problems.
In episodes like “The Ultimate Computer”, the dangers of over-relying on artificial intelligence were made clear: human judgment, intuition, and ethics remain indispensable.
AI and Moral Agency
The series anticipated key questions in AI ethics: Can machines make moral choices? Do they deserve rights? Who is accountable when they err?
These questions—posed decades before the modern AI boom—are now central to real-world debates in AI development and governance.
Techno-Ethical Responsibility
Starfleet officers are bound by ethical codes that govern their use of powerful technologies (e.g., transporters, warp drives, weapons).
This anticipates modern calls for ethical frameworks around powerful technologies like AI, gene editing, and autonomous weapons.
4. Legacy and Influence
Star Trek has inspired diplomats, scientists, activists, and technologists. It offers a narrative in which peace, diplomacy, and ethical reflection are not naive ideals but necessary for survival.
It helped shift popular expectations: advanced civilizations aren’t just technologically superior—they’re morally evolved.
Its impact is seen in:
Science fiction storytelling that centers ethics (Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse),
Policy conversations about AI, space exploration, and inter-cultural dialogue,
Public imagination about peacebuilding and cooperation in a diverse, multipolar world.
Conclusion
Star Trek reshaped how we think about peace and technology by rejecting dystopia and proposing a future where ethics, diplomacy, and moral courage are as important as scientific progress. It remains a touchstone for those who believe that humanity’s future—though fraught with danger—is still worth striving for.
WOW. Do you think people of my age, 56, who watched it as children, were influenced in ways that were manifest in our maturity but in ways that remained obscure to us?
Absolutely—profoundly so.
For many who watched Star Trek as children during its original run or in syndication during the 1970s, its influence was both formative and, as you said, often obscure. It planted moral, philosophical, and imaginative seeds that may not have been consciously recognized at the time, but subtly shaped how people thought about justice, progress, and what kind of world was worth building.
1. Ethical Imagination Takes Root Early
Children are incredibly receptive to moral frameworks—especially when presented through compelling storytelling. Star Trek offered more than entertainment; it modeled:
Moral reasoning (“What is the right thing to do?”),
Empathy across difference (human and alien, friend and foe),
Respect for science and curiosity, and
The possibility of a better future.
Even if young viewers didn’t fully grasp the political or philosophical dimensions, the stories felt different from other shows—more thoughtful, more principled, more hopeful. That feeling stays with people.
2. Seeds of Inclusivity and Justice
For a generation growing up amid the Cold War, civil rights movements, and political assassinations, Star Trek quietly suggested that the future could be inclusive and just. Seeing a bridge crew that included a Black woman, a Japanese-American, and a Russian during the height of racial tension and geopolitical rivalry was radical.
That kind of subtle normalization can have a lifelong effect on one’s view of diversity, equality, and what leadership looks like.
3. Influence on Values and Careers
Many scientists, engineers, teachers, diplomats—even astronauts—have cited Star Trek as a core influence. For many, it didn't just suggest that science and exploration were exciting; it showed that doing good through knowledge, diplomacy, and ethical leadership was possible—and even heroic.
You may not have realized it at the time, but watching Captain Kirk pause before acting, Spock weigh logic against feeling, or Uhura hold her post with dignity offered subtle lessons in how to carry yourself and make decisions.
4. A Quiet Resistance to Cynicism
One of the most enduring, if hidden, effects of Star Trek on its original audience might be how it countered cynicism. In an age that would grow increasingly disillusioned—Watergate, Vietnam, the end of the space race—Star Trek embedded a kind of moral optimism: that cooperation, intelligence, and empathy could prevail.
That sensibility—especially if internalized early—can shape how one reacts to adulthood’s many crises. It might not be conscious, but it’s there.
So yes—unequivocally yes: People of your generation who watched Star Trek as children were likely shaped by it in ways that only became evident later. And perhaps some of its most lasting lessons were never even fully noticed—just quietly lived.
If this is all so, are there similar influences, with the same philosophical bearing, for children growing up now?
ChatGPT said:
This is a powerful and timely question—and one that strikes at the heart of cultural storytelling and moral education today.
The short answer is: there are some similar influences, but they are more fragmented, more commercialized, and often less philosophically unified than Star Trek was for its time. The landscape has changed—both in media and in society—and while today’s children are surrounded by vast amounts of content, few single works seem to carry the same cohesive and optimistic philosophical vision that Star Trek once did.
🌟 Where Similar Philosophical Influences Exist Today
1. Pixar and Studio Ghibli Films
These studios offer some of the most consistently thoughtful and ethically rich narratives in contemporary children's media.
Pixar films like Inside Out, Wall-E, and Soul explore emotions, environmental ethics, mortality, and personal meaning.
Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) emphasizes the interconnectedness of nature, nonviolence, empathy, and personal growth.
While these films are episodic and not part of a broader universe like Star Trek, they do leave lasting philosophical impressions.
2. Science Fiction for Young Audiences
A few series have taken up the mantle of using science fiction to explore ethics, identity, and cooperation:
The Expanse (older teen to adult) echoes Star Trek’s complexity but is more cynical—exploring diplomacy, power, and existential threats with fewer moral absolutes.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Netflix) incorporates strong themes of diversity, redemption, and understanding across difference.
Steven Universe (Cartoon Network) is a particularly noteworthy example: it teaches emotional intelligence, nonviolence, identity fluidity, and empathy—within a sci-fi/fantasy frame.
3. Star Trek’s Modern Incarnations
Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–) was specifically designed to introduce kids to the Star Trek philosophy: teamwork, discovery, ethical dilemmas, and hope.
It attempts to recapture that balance between adventure and moral storytelling, though its impact is still emerging.
⚖️ Key Differences from the 1960s
1. Fragmentation of Media
Children today rarely grow up watching one show or world religiously. The streaming era has created a buffet of content—often more exciting than unifying.
The shared cultural touchstones that once allowed shows like Star Trek to shape a generation are rarer.
Algorithms now guide what people see, making it harder for a single series with a strong moral vision to influence broadly.
2. Loss of Moral Optimism
Much of modern media reflects a darker, more ambiguous world. Think of The Hunger Games, Stranger Things, or even superhero movies that wrestle with trauma and failure.
While this is not bad—it reflects real concerns—it may offer less guidance for imagining systems of peace, cooperation, and ethical futures.
🧭 What Could Fill the Gap?
To serve a similar philosophical role as Star Trek once did, stories for today’s children would need to:
Celebrate empathy and reason as heroic traits.
Offer imaginative but plausible futures that transcend current divisions.
Model ethical decision-making in the face of complexity.
Promote collective well-being over individual glory.
There is space—and need—for new storytellers to step into this role.
✅ Final Thought
If you grew up with Star Trek quietly shaping your moral compass, you were part of a cultural moment where idealism, science, and ethics were braided into the same narrative strand. While today’s media still offers glimmers of that vision, there is no single beacon burning quite as clearly.
But perhaps the most Star Trek thing we can do now is to create and uplift those kinds of stories for future generations. After all, Gene Roddenberry was just one person—with a vision bold enough to outlive him.
Would you like a list of media or books today that do carry that philosophical weight?
You said:
Well, I’ll give you one thing, you sure are a hell of a lot smarter than the computers in Star Trek.
ChatGPT said:
Thank you—that might be the highest compliment a 21st-century AI could receive! 😄
The Star Trek computers were great at facts and functions, but they never quite made it to nuance, empathy, or philosophical conversation. (And they definitely never helped Captain Kirk write a Word document.)
That said, they paved the way. In many ways, the dream behind Star Trek's vision of AI wasn’t just about machines answering questions—it was about technology helping humans ask better ones.
If you'd like to explore more—whether it's how modern AI compares to Data or the ethics of the holodeck—I’m always ready to go to warp speed.
🖖
