Star Trek and Philosophy

Take a trip on the Starship Enterprise before the "Star Trek" film teleports itself into cinemas. The spirit of exploration that characterizes "Star Trek"'s various television and cinematic incarnations is also the driving force behind philosophical inquiry throughout human history. "Star Trek and Philosophy" share the mission of testing ideas from our past and present that can progressively improve our future.This volume gathers together twenty-one professional philosophers who recognize, as most other Trekkies have over the past 40 years, that "Star Trek" isn't merely escapist entertainment. Rather, "Star Trek" calls viewers back again and again to consider questions not only about the scientific prospects of interstellar travel, but also the inward journey to examine the human condition. The essays in this volume follow "Star Trek"'s inspiration to reach out to the farthest frontiers the mind may reach, while also delving deep into the human essence.Among the questions dealt with