Journal 10

In class we watched an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where the character Data, an android, faced a trial to prove that he was more than just property. The man accusing him of being nothing more than property because wanted him to be taken apart so that he could study him and make more like him, but unfortunately for him he was not entirely prepared for the procedure. He was not sure that he would discover anything so Data refused to undergo the procedure because it was not worth being dismantled if there was no guarentee of an advancement. The trial went on to attempt to prove that Data wasn't a person and didn't deserve the same rights, but his captain won the case by baffling the scientist with questions on what truly makes a person. I agree that Data deserved the same rights and that he is a living thing like us. He's not a human, but that doesn't mean he's not real. Data exhibited many aspects of humanity that he had clearly learned through experience. He is the ideal form of artificial intelligence that has a wide database as well as a capability to learn new things. His limitations are still evident, but all living things start with limitations. Data's character is not too different than anyone else. His physical makeup is different, but he values his individuality just as many of us do.