What does it mean to have free will? Do we have choices or are we all just actors reading lines determined long before our birth? We are using the Star Trek Deep Space 9 episode Statistical Probabilities to explore the question. Show Notes Statistical Probabilities, Deep Space 9 Episode Issac Asimov Foundation Series Psycho History […]

How do you reason with incomplete information and how do you come up with the most plausible explanation? In this episode we look at Star Trek VI and the problem of a cloaked bird of prey. Show Notes Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Abduction/Inference to the Best Explanation William Occam Simplicty and Parsimony, including […]

Welcome back, you will notice that the number on the show has changed. This in part reflects a change to a new network, the Noodle.mx network. Also, there was a lot of old Sci Phi Show content and Daniel the network owner and I decided to renumber the old series as Season 1 & 2 […]

Which dystopian hell would you prefer to live in? 1984 or Brave New World? That is the question we will tackle on this season finale episode of the Sci Phi Show. Show Notes George Orwell 1984 Aldous Huxley Brave New World Utopia Dystopia Thomas Moore Marching soundeffect by Mike Koenig Youtube Version Transcript Worth picking […]

When is it ok to lie? Does Wartime make it acceptable? Using the Star Trek Deep Space 9 episode In the Pale Moon Light we will have a look at questions of what makes behavior ethical. Show Notes In the Pale Moon Light, episode description The Dominion Romulan Star Empire Elim Garak Obsidian Order Dominion […]

Would a life in the holodeck be worth it? Reg Barclay tries to live his life in one because it is safer than reality. Bellana Torres uses the holodeck to experience pain and suffering and feel truly alive. The political philosopher Robert Nozick offered a thought experiment along similar lines with an experience machine. Show […]

Are the Bajoran Prophets gods? That is the question we are going to explore this time. What properties make something a deity? Show Notes Bajor The Propehts The Pah Wraiths Q Bajoran Wormhole DS9: Accession DS9: The Assignment Omnipotence Omniscience The Eternality of God The Trinity Moral Perfection Gong sound effects by Mike Koenig Youtube […]

Does Batman have any friends? On this episode we look at the question of what is a friend according to the ancient philosopher Aristole and whether or not Batman has any of these sorts of friends, especially Perfect or Complete friends. Show Notes Batman Aristotle King Solomon Aristotle's Ethics, including Friendship Jim Gordon Dick Grayson […]

On this “Worth Watching”, episode of the Sci Phi Show we take a look at American screen writer and television producer Rod Serling. A fascinating character that made an lasting and indelible impression on western culture. Show Notes Rod Serling on Wikipedia The Rod Serling Foundation Twilight Zone Overview Night Gallery The Purple Testament, Episode […]

We look at the question of time travel on this episode of the Sci Phi show using the season straddlings Star Trek the Next Generation episode Time's Arrow. Show Notes Time's Arrow at Memory Alpha Time at the SEP Time Travel and Modern Physics at the SEP The Grandfather Paradox Paul Levinson Chronology Protection Conjecture […]