dromia, to this god-like association. When Data realizes what he has done to La Forge when under the control of Lore, he is demoralized, and deflated. And while this is another integral part of the individuation process, our psyches are in danger if they spend too much time identifying with this aspect as well. In my last blog I wrote that Data embodies the rational ego and the Starfleet mindset, which is reflective of the one that our culture finds itself in now; one that privileges emotions deemed good over those it perceives as evil. Data, reflecting the morals of Starfleet, is in conflict with causing others pain. With this in mind Data is remorseful when he tells La Forge: “Emotions are responsible for what I did to you. I would never risk letting that happen again. My friendship with you is too important to me.” However, La Forge also reflects the moral compass of Starfleet when he responds: “Data, I wouldn’t be very much of a friend if I let you give up on a lifelong dream, now would I? Maybe someday. . . when you’re ready” (Echevarria & Singer, 1993).

However, in “Descent, Part II” it is Lore, who was arguably psychically able to hold both emotion and logic, who was held hostage to ego inflation, and not allowed for it to take its natural course towards balance. It is no accident that the only emotions that Lore displayed were negative, as these are the ones the rational ego, embodied by the officers of Starfleet, actively tries to repress in its quest for its perfection. Yet this is at odds with the natural soma of integrating the opposites attributes held within our psyche, which seeks acknowledgment and balance of all parts of itself. This blind spot of the rational ego is reflected over and over again in the stories in the Star Trek series. However, I will note that there seems to be a bit of a change of perception in the newer Star Trek series, Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. It will be interesting to see if these two series, as well as others in the works, will continue to reframe the parameters of Starfleet.

Reference:

Echevarria, R. (Writer), & Singer A. (Director). (1993, September 18). Descent, part II (Season 7, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In M. Piller, R. Berman, & J. Taylor (Executive Producers), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.