The Second Amendment and Future of 3D Printing
The following dialogue below took place on Star Trek: Voyager, on episode 13, season 7, titled “Repentance.” It was between Seven of Nine (whom is a former Borg drone) and the Doctor (whom is a holographic emergency medical physician), of which they discuss the morality (or lack thereof) behind the act of killing another living being.
Star Trek Episode Summary
Prisoners are brought onto Voyager from a damaged alien vessel, and the crew must deliver them to their destination – for execution. [wiki]
Directed by: Mike Vejar
Seven of Nine (cyborg): “This would be easier if you would remain stationary.”
The Doctor (hologram): “It doesn’t feel right.”
Seven: “You may experience unusual sensations while your matrix realigns.”
Doctor: “I was referring to the ‘arrangement’ the Captain’s made with the Nygeans. No matter how terrible the crimes these men committed, it seems wrong to hand them over to be executed. This is a Federation Starship, not the barge of the dead.”
Seven: “Would you have preferred the Captain release them?”
Doctor: “Of course not. They’re dangerous men.”
Seven: “Executing them ensures they’ll never pose a threat to anyone again.”
Doctor: “So would life sentences…the operative word being ‘life.’”
Seven: “Confining them for life requires significant resources. The Nygeans may not think it worthwhile.”
Doctor: “What about rehabilitation? Given the chance, some of these men might become productive members of society one day.”
Seven: “Their victims won’t have the same opportunity.”
Doctor: “And that justifies taking their lives? An eye for an eye? It’s not justice, it’s revenge. Quite frankly, I’m surprised you’re not troubled by such a barbaric system.”
Seven: “I’m simply being objective. You often encourage me to see both sides of an argument.”
Doctor: “Well…this is one occasion when my programming won’t allow me to be objective. Killing is wrong no matter who’s doing it.”
([easyazon_link identifier=”B00062IDDS” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”seriou03-20″]Star Trek: Voyager[/easyazon_link] s07e13 – “Repentance”)
Photo Credit: Star Trek: Voyager
About the author
B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.
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