Ep 9. Star Trek: TNG and Alternate Worlds

In the ninth episode of Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy's first season, the focus shifts to the world of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the concept of alternate realities. The episode delves into various philosophical questions through the lens of science fiction, exploring the nature of identity, existence, and reality itself.

The episode begins by examining the episode "Yesterday's Enterprise," in which the U.S.S. Enterprise-C travels through time, altering the course of history and creating an alternate universe where the Federation is embroiled in a bloody, decades-long war with the Klingons. Through this storyline, the episode raises questions about the nature of causality and the role of individual choices in shaping the course of history.

The show then examines other examples of alternate worlds in Star Trek, such as the mirror universe first introduced in The Original Series episode "Mirror, Mirror" and further explored in episodes of Deep Space Nine and Enterprise. The mirror universe presents a version of the Star Trek universe where the heroic Federation is replaced by a brutal, authoritarian Terran Empire. This alternate universe raises philosophical questions about the nature of power, morality, and the impact of environment on individual behavior.

Throughout the episode, the hosts of Sci-Phi also explore the philosophical implications of the "Many-Worlds Interpretation" of quantum mechanics, which suggests that there are countless alternate universes in which every possible outcome of every event occurs. This leads to a discussion of the nature of existence itself, and whether the concept of "reality" has any objective meaning.

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts turn to the philosophical concept of the "odds of existence," which asks why the universe exists in its current form rather than any number of other possible configurations. This leads to a broader discussion of the role of chance and probability in shaping the universe and the individual lives of those who inhabit it.

Overall, this episode of Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy offers a thoughtful, engaging exploration of the many philosophical questions raised by Star Trek's use of alternate worlds. By using science fiction as a lens through which to examine these concepts, the show invites viewers to consider some of the most fundamental questions of existence and reality in a new and exciting way.