Section 4
Ethics
and Morality in the 24th Century
In circa 48315.6 the Starship Voyager was commissioned and
given an initial mission to locate a missing Marquis Raider with an undercover
Starfleet officer onboard. (Cartekarer, Relativity) Said ship [Maquis Raider] had disappeared in the
Badlands, as it transpired the disappearance was due to the intervention of an
alien sporocystian energy form known as the Caretaker. The ship and later the
USS Voyager were stranded some 70 years from home in a distant part of the
Galaxy where the laws of the Federation are not enforced and the moral
structures are very different. The captain of the Federation star ship Captain
Kathryn Janeway decided to return home following the laws and teachings of the
Federation. To do this she incorporated the crew of the Maquis ship into her
own.
During the five [+] years since the initial incident it can
be argued that the Captain’s decisions often exceed the boundaries she would
try and live by were she still within the Federation boundaries.
The main adversary Janeway faces is not the collection of alien races that may oppose the ship. Moreover, her main opponent is her own self doubt, the time she has to reflect on the incidents and the lack of constraints of the new environment. In “civilised” society there are consistently external checks against which Janeway can measure her self. With these removed her actions begin to veer from the norm. This idea was discussed by Joseph Conrad in the early part of the previous [twentieth] century. When people leave for adventure in other novels they return having learnt something new but Conrad rejected this notion in writing Heart of Darkness and this is why it has been classified as the first modern novel.
Conrad’s novel was not so much a journey up a river as it
was a journey into the soul of “man”. Joseph
Conrad explorers the fear of the absence of civilisation in the African
wilderness based upon experiences the author acquired after spending many years
at sea exploring areas not dissimilar to those experienced by Marlow in the
book. While describing the journey of a seaman who travels into the depths of a
remote and distant jungle, Conrad evokes this fear with descriptions of a
primordial world:
Conrad’s description of the forest with references such as “impenetrable”. That form of imagery creates a feeling of isolation and alienation which is used throughout the novel as a basis for the questioning of a person’s views on existentialism relative to the world and universe in which we live.
In the wilderness with the
removal of the normal social constraints Conrad argues the frailty of “man”
who sees how fragile he really is in relation to the world. There also exists a
message that we can find alienation even within developed cities. We see in the
novel a fear from Kurtz of return to civilisation. This parallels a certain fear
demonstrated by members of the Voyager crew. This is most notable in the actions
of former Borg 7of9. In the season conclusion for the fourth year, “Hope and
Fear” she expresses fear of the impending return to Earth, via the
Dauntless’ Quantum Slipstream. She does not believe that she can take a place
in a human society after so long away from Earth. There is also a realisation
among the Maquis that there exists no place for them in society and especially
as the crew of a Federation ship. However, as stated by Chief Engineer
B’Elanna Torres [Hope and Fear] she would rather face the court martial at
home than remain in the Delta Quadrant.
Towards the end of the book,
Conrad contrasts the mysterious and perplexing world that makes up the
wilderness with that of the alienating effects brought upon from the strains of
living in isolation once re-entering civilisation. On the level of the plot, the
character Mr. Kurtz, “hated the idea of being taken away.”
The time when Janeway’s self destruction becomes most
evident is in her relinquishment of command to Chakotay. Throughout the novel
Heart of Darkness, work is seen as both a constraint and a restraint. When work
becomes unimportant to Kurtz and he begins to kill for his ivory he is less
connected with the civilised world than ever before and begins his descent. Work
provides restraint and keeps you
sane. Janeway, while busy, has no opportunity to dwell on her decision. However,
when in the Void she becomes pre-occupied and less attached to the social
constraints.
If we were to assume that Janeway
is becoming very Kurtz-ean in her actions and influences then it is less clear
who we should see as Marlow. It has been argued that with Marlow, Conrad was
presenting a lingering wish to endorse the standard values of the Victorian
ethic, and with Kurtz, Conrad expresses his foreboding that the accelerating
changes in the scientific, political, and spiritual view of the world during the
last decades of the old century were preparing for unsuspected terrors for the
new. The spiritual view at the turn of the century was best summarised by the
philosopher Nietzher who stated:
“God is dead.”
This simple quote summarised what
a generation of people had come to believe. With science being brought to the
forefront of society like never before and the blank spaces on the map receding
very rapidly, it was becoming clearer that there were less mysterious in the
world. If there were no heaven and no God then all that exists is a great
emptiness. It is this that drives Kurtz to insanity, looking into the deepest
depths of Africa and finding there no social checks. It is also the same fate
that threatens Katherine Janeway. Janeway is battling with the burdens she
created when she denied herself the use of alien technology to get home. This
initial holding of Starfleet procedure may be leading to a latter abandoning of
those same principles. Marlow is very much a student and possible protégé to
Kurtz but Kurtz sees that he will never follow him, this possibly leads to
Kurtz’ final words:
“The horror, the horror!”
Kurtz realises that his work has
jeopardised future ivory trade and that his one possible salvation, the passing
of his work to Marlow will never happen given that Marlow does not share his
view. Marlow does, however, feels a strange and perverse loyalty to Kurtz. He
feels that he understands Kurtz's final comment, "The horror the
horror!" Marlow conceals his knowledge of Kurtz's madness, thus protecting
his reputation. He takes the papers back to Brussels, giving some to relatives
and some to the press. He takes the personal letters to Kurtz's
"intended," a loyal and idealistic woman who mourns the death of Kurtz
and worships his memory. She is sure he was a genius. Marlow, embarrassed by her
expectation that he also admires Kurtz's genius, nevertheless does not
disillusion her. He lies, telling her that Kurtz's last word was her name. To
tell her the truth would have been "too dark."
Towards the end of the book,
Conrad contrasts the mysterious and perplexing world that makes up the
wilderness with that of the alienating effects brought upon from the strains of
living in isolation once re-entering civilisation. Seven of Nine audibly voices
this concern in the Season End “Hope and Fear”. Janeway maintains a constant
desire to return home however it is possible that she has not thought through
the implications of her return. Within Conrad’s novel, the character Mr.
Kurtz, “hated the idea of being taken away.” It is not easy for someone to
go back to living in a civilised world after having spent a great deal of time
living in a raw environment. Mr. Kurtz came to dread going back to living in
civilisation because he knew that he was no longer a part of that social order.
His order had become that of the savage wilderness he had occupied for the past
few years. Through his solitary wanderings he had fallen under “the heavy,
mute spell of the wilderness”. These wanderings proved to be self-destructive
for the character and were the root cause for the illness that eventually killed
him. Janeway’s ship would certainly have no place in the Starfleet. The crew
of the vessel, especially the command staff are neither qualified and in many
places are not legal members of the Federation being the wanted outlaws formerly
known as the Maquis.
Marlow leave Kurtz to go to the
mess room. Shortly thereafter the servant of the manager comes in to say,
sarcastically, "Mistah Kurtz--he dead." The manager and the other
white men, the "pilgrims," are glad to be rid of him. They bury him
hurriedly on the river ban
Likewise, the character Charlie
Marlow finds that re-adapting to civilisation was a complex undertaking as well.
Here we see how Marlow resents the civilised culture from which he was born
into:
“…the sight of people hurrying through to
filch a little money…They trespassed upon my thoughts. They were intruders
whose knowledge of life was to me an irritating pretence, because I felt so sure
they could not possible know the things I knew. Their bearing, which was simply
the bearing of commonplace individuals going about their business in the
assurance of perfect safety, was offensive to me like the outrageous flauntings
of folly in the face of a danger it is unable to comprehend so full of stupid
importance”
This hints to a pettiness of
existence within our culture. It suggests that there are individuals who will
never be capable of freeing themselves of the pretences brought on by the
detractions of living within a superficial culture, or a culture that can best
be described as shallow, egotistical and selfish. It is struggles such as these
that challenge Marlow once he comes back from the jungle
Kurtz is admired by many people in the book, even those who
are opposed to what he has done. The Russian boy [The Harlequin] describes him
as: “a prodigy”...and an “emissary of pity, and science, and progress and
devil knows what else we want”
The manager was another person to whom Kurtz had significance. He was rising through the ranks by the deaths of people and was quite content to watch Kurtz die. Though the manager may be inclined to leave him to die most people even if jealous such as the brickmaker respect Kurtz. The manager believed Kurtz had destroyed the future trade as he had done for the present. But there is respect for the establishment of the operation.
Though Kurtz was corrupt he did what no one had done
before. Kurtz is a Romantic, believing in the power of words but within Africa
words break down and lose meaning. “Kurtz” being a German for small though
the man himself measures some seven feet.
Her desire to return home forces her into an alliance with
the Borg. However by interfering in the political structure of the Delta
Quadrant something she had sworn not to do according to Starfleet General Order
Number One. The repercussions of the battle between the Borg and Species 8472
seemed likely to end with the destruction of the Borg which would have saved
several alien races. By trying to guarantee her ship’s safety she aids the
Borg and in doing so brings about the total annihilation of many species who are
assimilated into the Borg collective in the aftermath of the Borg/Species 8472
war.
Though she has at all times attempted to follow her guiding principles in the wilderness that is the Delta Quadrant with no or few external checks she is perhaps losing sight of the General Orders. In many ways the journey to the Alpha Quadrant is as much a metaphysical journey for the characters of the Voyager as each member of the crew attempts to deal with their innerconflicts and desires. What is found is arguably similar to the first modern novel written in 1901 by Joseph Conrad. It has been stated many times that Janeway’s character suffers a descent into a very Kurtz like depth. In Conrad’s novel Kurtz was a man sent into a dark continent to oversee the ivory trade. Though we learn little about Kurtz from himself, more through the views of others. However, at the end in a period of self reflection Kurtz muses that he was an idealist, that he wanted to bear the torch of progress into darkness. Kurtz fell victim to the forces of darkness rather than conquering them.
Kurtz has a profound effect on
every one he meets including the “more primitive” natives. On talking to the
Russian, Marlow comes to understand that Kurtz has been able to ship so much
ivory because he has subdued the natives of the surrounding tribes, making
himself their god.
The ghastly evidence of Kurtz's rule is shown rather
poignantly by the line of shrunken heads on the fence posts surrounding
Kurtz’s house. The attack on the steamboat was launched because the people do
not want Kurtz to go away; they worship him. After overcoming them with the
power of his guns Kurtz had established elaborate rituals of obedience, so that
even the chiefs crawl in his presence. Finally, Kurtz has lost his own sense of
civilisation, and at times even believes in his own divinity. Kurtz is carried
into the boat, but he escapes at night and attempts to rejoin his followers.
Kurtz shapes the continent and the peoples, in a manner similar to Janeway’s shaping of 7of9 in her own image. One member of the continent that is deeply affected by Kurtz is the Russian student. The Russian boy believes that Kurtz who enlarged his mind. The boy admires Kurtz and his gruesome power over the savages.
Janeway retains a belief that she is not only right but
that she is still following the ideals of the Federation. Upon rescuing Seven
of Nine tertiary adjunct to unimatrix 01 from the Collective Janeway
attempts to instruct 7of9 in the ways of the federation. At first 7of9 is very
resistant claiming that she would rather return to the Collective. However,
Janeway states that it is not a human desire to return to the Borg and therefore
by definition could not be human at that moment. Since Janeway would not agree
to return 7of9 until it is her free wish and by definition wishing to return is
not a human or a free choice Janeway refuses to grant 7of9 freedom until she
agrees to remain with the crew. Janeway’s argument throughout is both circular
and deeply flawed.
In the Greek tragedies the gods were in control of the mortals and nothing humans could do would alter the fate of the person. Much of Hamlet’s indecision in Shakespeare's famous play towards the revenge he wishes to extract on Claudius is that Christianity says that there exists the potential of eternal life, one that promises to be far better than the one we leave behind.
“I do not know
Why yet I live to say ‘This thing’s to do’
Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means
To do’t”
The locating in late season 5 (Warhead) of the lost
science ship USS Equinox, shows the crew of Voyager just how well the Sarship
Voyager has carried Federation ethics during its near 4 year journey. However,
there have been instances during Voyager’s return when Federation ethics and
general orders have been violated. The other Federation crew have fallen father
even to the extent of the removing of the ship’s docotr’s ethical routines
allow for the crew four surviving officers to develop a means of returning home
through the exploitation and introduction of lethal effects onto an alien race.
This shows that human failings are still prevalent and the removal of the social
constraints can lead to the return of a more barbaric way of life. This is a
theme presented in the original episode “The Enemy Within” where a
transporter accident splits captain James Kirk into two separate entities. The
episode argues the need for the different sides of the soul to create a balanced
personality.
Captain Benjamin Sisko was so consumed with a desire to
extract revenge that he ordered the bombing of an civilian planet on 50485.2. By
attaching trilithium resin top two quantum torpedoes Sisko rendered the planet
Solossus III uninhabitable for some fifty years and jeopardised the lives of
those on the planet who were unable to reach transports in time. He threatened
to extract a similar fate on the likewise aligned Tracken II were it not for the
sacrifice of Michael Eddington.
Around stardate 50378.9 Benjamin Sisko became so obsessed
with the teachings of the prophets and so immersed in their culture that he went
against his original mission status that of bringing Bajor into the Federation.
In a belief that a plague of locust would descend upon the world and towards
Cardassia; he believed that the planet’s safety would be better preserved if
they remained non aligned. Later in 50560.1 a Dominion fleet fulfilled the
prophecy of locust descending when they emerged from the wormhole and aligned
with Cardassia. As was officially decided at the end of the year Bajoran entry
into the Federation would only end in their defeat at the hands of the Dominion
who sought to control the entry into the gamma quadrant. As Kai Winn stated the
Federation could not guarantee Bajoran safety and would not be prepared to pull
fleets off the lines to or away from other Federation worlds. As such Bajor
entered a pact of non-aggression along with the Romulan Star Empire promising
non-interference with the Dominion-Federation-Klingon war.
Though the eventually proven correct Sisko put prophecy
before duty and ended the Bajoran signing of the entrance into the federation
before proof was brought of the Dominion invasion. Once more in late 2374 when
the Federation prepared to penetrate the Cardassian/Dominion defence line at the
Chintaka system Sisko almost refused to seize the advantage the non-operational
weapons systems provided based on the word of the prophets above those of his
superiors.
An example of how well Voyager retains its principles
against adversity is when we are given a view of histories that might have been.
In the episode “Living Witness” the Kyrian Museum curator, Quarren, explains
to visitors how the intervention of the U.S.S. Voyager spacecraft started an
apocalyptic war on a planet inhabited by two species: the Kyrians and the
Vaskans. Ethnic rivalries between the two races are still uneasy, seven hundred
years after the U.S.S. Voyager has come and gone, and some Vaskan visitors are
appalled by the Kyrians reconstruction of history based on a few recovered
artefacts. But more damaging information is on the way, when Quarren activates a
newly discovered device containing active data. This turns out to be the
holograph program The Doctor, who soon finds himself on trial for war crimes
attributed to the U.S.S. Voyager and its crew over seven centuries ago.
The crew of the USS Voyager is unsettled as a secluded and
conflicted Captain Janeway reflects on the decision she's made along the mission
and the consequences those judgements have had for them all. But soon the team
of the USS Voyager encounters two never before seen alien species - a nocturnal
alien and its foe, the Malon - and knows that one will not survive without their
intervention. Knowing that coming to their aid makes a detour through dark,
desolate space necessary, the captain alone must once again determine her crew's
fate.
However, over the first four years seeds of doubt form and
she becomes increasingly unsure of the decisions she has made. By 52081.2 her
doubts are consuming her to such a degree that she becomes isolated from the
crew, refusing to take a command presence and leaving the captaincy of the ship
effectively in the hands of her first officer Chakotay. Eventually when a crisis
occurs she is willing to sacrifice herself, in believing she could not turn to
her crew.
In late 51000 while on a Y Class planet she contravenes
Starfleet orders and allows the cloning of crew members. Previous to this her
desire to free her ship drives her to attack almost unremittingly and almost
certainly without remorse an alien creature that has become sentient only due to
the interference of the crew of USS Voyager.
Very often the Federation is
built up to an ideal, but unfortunately there are instances where this ideal is
no longer realised. In late 2374 the Federation is a bid to partner with an
alien species The Sonn’a, attempt to remove the peaceful Ba’aku from their
homeworld. The procedure is overseen by a Starfleet Admiral Doherty. This
procedure suggests that the federation covers more unpleasant facets hidden from
the general federation citizen. Certainly the proven existence of Section 31, a
dark undercover agency designed to operate outside the constraints of Federation
ideals suggests that a hypocritical air exists. A hypocrisy in government and
religion has affected Earth for many years. In many ways it can be seen to
parallel what was occuring in the late
18 century. Certain people tried to expose this and one method was poetry. William Blake
was an eighteenth century poet who examined the state of the world at the time
and showed how the Church of the time was a
proclaimed helper of the poor but with far darker intentions.
“Babes reduced to misery,
Fed with cold and userous hand”
In “Holy Thursday”
Blake speaks of how the Church feeds the poor, the establishment seeks to gain
the image of goodness and secure a place in heaven under the guise of a
beneficial charity.
“...wise guardians of the poor;
The cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door.”
“Holy Thursday” for example
has two incarnations both of which detail the same event, but from very
different standpoints. In the late eighteenth century it is now clear that the
government manipulated both society and constrained the poor. The Federation has
eliminated the essence of poor by establishing a society that evidently helps
the peoples, but there is the possibility that even this society could act to
suppress people. This is certainly the view of those members of society who felt
the Federation sold peoples homes and ways of life in favour of alliances with
the Cardassian Order.
The Federation has also had
considerable difficulty in the determination of the rights of sentient beings
such as those of non-organic non-natural origin. An example of this being the
wish of Bruce Maddox to study Lieutenant Commander Data. Though Data considers
allowing others to study him he later learns that Maddox may not be able
to reassemble him. As such Data quite understandably refuses to submit to the
procedure. Unfortunately Maddox declines to relinquish the request making it an
order. When Captain Picard is unable to have the orders changed, it becomes
apparent that data’s only option in the precedings is to resign from
Starfleet. Unfortunately Starfleet goes further and his decision to resign, is
challenged by Maddox on the basis that Data is not a person with rights, but
property of the Federation.
The Judge Advocate General officer of the Starbase, Phillipa Louvois, rules that Maddox's contention is supported by a twenty-first century precedent. When the job of prosecution is given to William Riker, due to low staffing levels Louvois warns that if Riker does not give his best effort, she will summarily rule in favour of Maddox.
Riker makes an argument that data is no more than a human
created automaton and demonstrates his ability to turn data off. It is Guinan
who points out that the Federation's desire to create and own a race of
disposable androids is the recreation of slavery. Making an impassioned plea for
Data's freedom, Picard declares that in a sense, all beings are created but that
does not necessarily make them the property of their creator. The trails outcome
rules in favour of artificial life, but the fact that the preceedings went to
trail and that the Federation was involved in slavery suggests they are not as
evolved as one would believe. This issue was further explored in “The Quality
of Life”. Here Data believes that Dr. Farallon’s “tools”, the
Exocomp’s maybe sentient and should be given the rights and privileges given
to organic life. This is not initially acknowledged but data manages to convince
people of the robots sentience.
There exists an inability for the
Federation to acknowledge forms of life different to their own. In late 2373 the
Ferengi Alliance, acknowledged the rights of females within its culture. A move
perhaps in some-way influenced by the dealings the culture had with the
federation since 2364.
It was in 1868 when nine years old or
thereabouts, that while looking at a map of Africa of the time and putting my
finger on the blank space...representing the unsolved mystery of that continent,
I said to myself “when I grow up, I shall go there”.
Charlie Marlow:
Heart of Darkness