Out of raw materials, a thing was crafted. It simply says a man was formed from dust. There is no detail surrounding the complexity of the human body, the intricacies of neural pathways, or the functions of the individual organs. The second chapter of Genesis tells us that “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground.” ( Genesis 2:7a, NIV) The imagery is of creation, but admittedly a very generalized, encompassing image.
But, as Picard points out, “That is irrelevant.” Because the question on the table is not whether Data is a machine or not, but whether he might be more than merely a machine. Instead of micro-processors, cables, and a central motherboard, we have arteries, cells, and a brain. The case appears to be finished.īut when Picard returns to Data’s defense, he wisely points out that human beings are merely machinery of a different variety. So, he deftly and devastatingly proves that Data is fundamentally a sequence of wires, processors, and (most impactfully) an on-and-off switch. Riker has been told that if he in any way appears to be underplaying this duty, the entire hearing will be closed down and Data will lose everything. In “The Measure of a Man,” Commander Riker’s primary duty is to represent the position that Data is little more than an elaborate and impressive toaster. The blows are verbal and the action is often intellectual, but the battleground is no less intense when the stakes of the conflict are high and the opponents are well matched. Some of the greatest courtroom dramas are nearly equivalent in tension and excitement to any physical combat zone. The episode remains one of my favorites, not only because of my personal affection towards legal dramas, but because of the nuance and complexity with which the subject is explored. The battle for Data’s right to choose his own destiny begins, with Captain Picard as Data’s defender and Commander Riker being forced by legal stipulations to be his opponent. Despite assurances that Data’s memory will remain intact by a downloading process, Data does not feel confident that the ultimate result will be anything other than his own annihilation. The premise involves an ambitious scientist – Captain Maddox – who wants to disassemble Commander Data for the purposes of experimentation and replication. Reed Lackey joins the Trektember crew with his review of Season 2, Episode 9: The Measure of a Man.Ĭonsidered by critical consensus to be the first truly great episode of Star Trek: TNG, “The Measure of a Man” sits directly at the crossroads of civil rights, scientific advancement, the pursuit of justice, and the very qualities of a living soul. Please note that there are minor plot spoilers for this episode below. Star Trek: The Next Generation is thirty years old this month! To celebrate, Redeeming Culture is assembling the finest crew of culture redeemers from all over the internet to investigate the spiritual harmonies in this cornerstone of science fiction.įor more about Trektember, read our preview post.
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