Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Kirk vs Gorn Redux
I found it to be very interesting that Ihde mentions how technology is a very important part of humanity. It is true that through humanity's use of tools, from the simple hammer made out of a stick and a rock all the way to the new fangled computers that run the newest and best software, humanity has always depended upon technology as a means of advancement and survival. There is a Star Trek (The Original Series) episode that illustrates this point. Kirk and the crew had been summoned to a Federation colony by the colony's distress call. This launches the Enterprise into a chase in an attempt to stop the alien attackers from attacking another colony. During the chase, both ships encounter an alien being that is evolutionarily superior. This being pits Kirk against the alien captain in a battle to the death with no available technology, except their universal translators and a recording device. After a few fist fights where Kirk gets beaten by the reptilian, Gorn, captain he starts to notice the basic compounds for gunpowder. As a result Kirk was able to fashion a crude, yet effective, firearm with which he was able to defeat the Gorn captain. This proved to the superior being that humans were better than the Gorn, and thus the crew of the Enterprise were allowed to survive, whereas the Gorn's ship was destroyed. You see, humanity has depended upon technology for its very survival. Without crude weapons to fend off attacking predators and rival apes, humanity would not have evolved into what it has become. We invented tools to help us accomplish tasks that we are physically unable to do, like a leaver or a pulley. Even the wheel was an important step in this evolution of modern man. You can find technology in every human culture. Natives use more crude versions of this technology, but they use technology nonetheless. It seems that technology has worked its way permanently into human society.
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2 comments:
Strangely enough, I just watched this episode of Star Trek last night. I thought that the point was that human superiority was demonstrated by Kirk's compassion for the wounded Gorn, not by the fact that he had cleverly fashioned a gun from native materials. An interesting example, in any case.
After reviewing the episode "Arena" (not a terrible task) I am convinced that the Metrons (sp?) recognized Kirk as the superior being, if you will, because he showed compassion to the defeated Gorn. The sparkly and effeminite Metron at the close of the episode suggested as much. Andrew's reading of the episode is interesting, however. It ascribes a much more insidious motive to the Metrons--perhaps they just enjoy watching intelligent and civilized beings forced into a battle royale. They seemed to be more than willing to destroy the bested Gorn and his crew. Although, it may have just been another test for Kirk.
The episode does raise interesting questions about technology, however. The Metron states at the close of the battle that mercy was a highly evolved trait. He was not interested in the human beings' technoical advancement (which was obviously very extensive)necessarily.
Stargate:SG-1 provides an interesting spin on a similar scenario. To avoid spoiling the series (or proving how much time I spend watching said series) I won't be too detailed. SG-1 takes place in the present day, so the earthlings (specifically the USAF featuring an alien) use current technology. The Stargate, however, allows them to travel to less advanced and more advanced places. During their travels they meet a race known as the Asgard, a group of highly advanced "grays" (the traditional Roswell aliens) imperosnating Norse gods to allow them to assist blossoming human cultures (a very Kipling-esque philosophy)
Ironically, they seek the alliance of earthlings when they are attacked by a formiddable enemy, not for Earth's technological savvy, but because the humans are more primitive. The Asgard leader, Thor, later implies that their highly advanced minds and technology have altered their perception of reality to the point where they can no longer find solutions to new and unusual challenges.
Both examples display that technology can and does affect our existence. It alters our understanding of reality, problem solving and morality. Both examples also indicate that, while a significant part of human life, technology is not the only measure of humanity and civilization.
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