The Original Series Season 1 - Essential Trek Philosophy.

The entire Star Trek franchise, with over 700 television episodes and 13 feature films (to date), owes its existence to the strength of season 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series. If season 1 hadn't been as strong as it was, we wouldn't have the Star Trek franchise we know and love today. Season 1 of The Original Series isn't just strong dramatically, however. It is also strong philosophically, episode by episode exploring abstract ideas, future human potential, and the human condition.

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling go back to where it all began in a discussion of their top picks for Essential Trek Philosophy from season 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series. Join Mike and Zachary as they discuss the four dominant philosophical themes in the premiere season of Star Trek: ethical and moral dilemmas, transhumanism and future human potential, the internal struggle of conflicting human natures, and the ethics of war.

Chapters Intro (00:01:19) Initial Thoughts on TOS Season One (00:01:58) The Four Main Philosophical Themes (00:10:26) Moral Choices and Ethical Conundrums (00:14:54) The City on the Edge of Forever (00:15:07) Transhumanism (00:21:13) The Cage (00:22:24) Arena (00:26:28) Errand of Mercy (00:28:11) The Return of the Archons (00:33:39) Space Seed (00:37:47) Where No Man Has Gone Before (00:39:52) Charlie X/The Squire of Gothos (00:40:30) What Are Little Girls Made Of? (00:42:32) Miri (00:46:13) Dagger of the Mind (0047:31) Exploration of Human Nature (00:50:49) The Enemy Within (00:52:06) The Conscience of the King (00:56:21) The Alternative Factor (00:58:03) Ethics of War (01:03:48) Balance of Terror (01:04:33) A Taste of Armageddon (01:06:14) This Side of Paradise (01:08:35) Devil in the Dark (01:11:38) Recap and Final Thoughts (01:15:08) Closing (01:18:31)

Hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling

Production Mike Morrison (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Shaw (Associate Producer) Mark Walker (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)