39,327
edits
Science Is Bad: Difference between revisions
m
update links
m (update links) |
m (update links) |
||
Line 3:
{{quote|''"Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends! Well, I say there are some things we don't '''want''' to know! Important things!"''|'''Ned Flanders''', ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''}}
Writers are not scientists.<ref>Well, [[Isaac Asimov|not usually.]]</ref> Whether it is because they perceive science as cold and emotionless, or because they just disliked science and embraced literature [[Writers Cannot Do Math|after failing math in high school]], [[wikipedia:Luddite|luddism]] is an [[Ludd Was Right|awfully common philosophy]] in the arts community. The [[Harmony Versus Discipline|typical theme]] is that some sort of advanced scientific research has [[Gone Horribly Wrong]], [[Turned Against Their Masters|creating a monster]], causing an [[Apocalypse How|impending]] [[Attack of the 50
The antagonist (almost always either [[Mega Corp|corporate]] or military/government scientists -- and [[Beauty Equals Goodness|not]] [[Hot Scientist|hot]]) [[They Called Me Mad|refuses to believe]] that his work could be so badly [[Scale of Scientific Sins|flawed and/or immoral]], or simply doesn't care about [[Reluctant Mad Scientist|who gets hurt by it]], insisting that the research is ''[[For Science!]]!'' They will generally use their influence with the government to make life difficult for the heroes; this can include trying to have them arrested and/or [[Murder Is the Best Solution|otherwise]] [[The Coroner Doth Protest Too Much|silenced]], often leading to a shoot-out, jail break, or [[Chase Scene]].
Line 120:
** ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]'' episode which most directly addresses this is "The Way to Eden" (the infamous "space hippie" one). Dr. Sevrin's followers want to abandon technology and return to a pastoral existence. Between his Vulcan half's admiration for their (ahem, [[Technical Pacifist|technical!)]] pacifism, and his human half's submerged longing for exactly that sort of simple life, [[Rounded Character|Spock]] of all people ends up sympathizing with them. He's deeply disappointed when their leader turns out to be nuts.
** ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager's]]'' take on the [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens|Q]] is interesting. ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|TNG]]'' had previously established that the Q believed humans might one day develop into a civilization comparable to themselves (and were [[Fantastic Racism|not very pleased about it);]] yet, in Voyager, most of the all-but-omnipotent Q are shown to be bored half out of their minds, because life offers no challenges any more.
** Averted in Roddenberry's novelization of the first [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture|movie,]] which claims that most of humanity outside of Starfleet is actually going a transhumanist route, forming into massminds and such. Kirk, as narrator, regards this as a generally good thing and chides himself for being old-fashioned. However, this claim [[Canon
** In TOS, [[Bunny Ears Lawyer]] Sam Cogley's speech in "[[Star Trek/Recap/S1 E20 Court Martial|Court Martial]]" about liking his book collection better than his computer, even though he admits it can display any of their contents instantly.
** The TOS episode "The Ultimate Computer" is a great example of this trope, combined with a little [[Ludd Was Right]]. The Enterprise is testing a brand-new computer that could automate starships completely, making crews and captains all but obsolete. Of course, [[AI Is a Crapshoot]], things go south fast, and our heroes must pull the plug and save the day, but not before the sorrowful moments where Kirk faces the thought he may become obsolete. The scientist who designed the computer also turns out to be insane at the end, just to drive the point home.
| |||