Acknowledgments

introduction The Philosophic Enterprise

part I New Life, New Civilizations In which we investigate the nature and proper treatment of life, wherever it may be found.

chapter 1 Prime Suspects In which we examine aliens, from the Horta to Vulcans to the Children of Tama. Is it better to be ruled by logic or by emotion? What does it mean to be human, or to be a person? How do Starfleet personnel know new life when they meet it? Are there cognitive and linguistic universals?

chapter 2 Insufficient Data In which we examine computers, androids, exocomps, nanites, and holograms, but especially Lieutenant Commander Data. Is artificial life possible? Artificial intelligence? Could there be artificial persons? Artificial humans? What reasons are there for denying these possibilities? What is a fair test of artificial intelligence or sentience?

chapter 3 Pro Creation In which we reply to the many objections to artificial personhood. Can a machine like Data have creativity, independence, or free will? Can a machine understand natural language? Or feel, or be emotional, or mistaken, or conscious?

part II Matters of Survival In which we catalogue and investigate the many unusual processes and transformations that people undergo in Star Trek.

chapter 4 To Beam or Not to Beam? In which we examine the transporter. What exactly does it do? Is it rational for Kirk to undergo teletransport in the expectation that he, Kirk, will survive it? Roger Korby, Vedek Bareil, and Janice Lester help us decide.

chapter 5 Personal Growth In which we examine the exotic. Is Jadzia Dax identical to Curzon Dax? What happened to Lieutenant William T. Riker when he "split"? What happened to Tuvok and Neelix when they "fused"? Is it rational to transform yourself in the transporter or on the holodeck? What happened to Kirk when he "split"?

chapter 6 Temporal Distortions In which we examine time travel. Is it possible? Can a time traveler change history? Can you meet your past or future self? Does knowledge of the future destroy individual freedom?

Epilogue: The Future

Bibliography

Index