tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13466737.post6265222194367358137..comments2023-09-20T07:36:46.785-07:00Comments on cgranade::streams: The Spock FallacyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10298483138666657303noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13466737.post-8865686101623000382010-07-28T11:56:05.179-07:002010-07-28T11:56:05.179-07:00Hey, thanks for adding to the conversation! In ord...Hey, thanks for adding to the conversation! In order for our culture to change so that rationalism is seen in a positive (even essential) light, we need to discuss what it means to be rational as emotional beings. I think fiction gives us a lot of opportunities to do so, and so I love seeing good comments like yours furthering the conversation.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10298483138666657303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13466737.post-55892523671120015602010-07-27T19:54:34.598-07:002010-07-27T19:54:34.598-07:00Hmm, quite true. Data was an interesting addition ...Hmm, quite true. Data was an interesting addition in this regard; he placed a value on humanness, and on human vulnerabilities and eccentricities, particularly the awkwardness of human emotion.<br /><br />And I love that you remind us that learning is joyful.Saver Queenhttp://saverqueen.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13466737.post-28834307408788352592010-07-24T17:53:07.137-07:002010-07-24T17:53:07.137-07:00I agree entirely, and feel much the same way about...I agree entirely, and feel much the same way about why I'm in research. It's not because being a researcher is the most rational thing to be (though it may well be), but because of the joy of learning about our world. My emotions do play a large part of why I am a scientist.<br /><br />As for TNG, I think that they got it a lot better with Data, since he was always seeking to learn about emotions and gain emotions himself. Not that I even think that Spock is bad <i>per se</i>, but that a lot of what made him cool and interesting got lost under that unfortunate stereotype.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10298483138666657303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13466737.post-17149971198926930072010-07-24T17:40:09.627-07:002010-07-24T17:40:09.627-07:00Excellent post. I'd never thought about this b...Excellent post. I'd never thought about this before, but it's true, that Star Trek, TOS in particular, helped to perpetuate this stereotype.<br /><br />I think that science, rationalism and emotions can co-exist quite peacefully. I think our emotions helped to guide what we value, and science helps achieve these goals.<br /><br />Take the work that I do. It's really empathy, compassion and other feelings that guide my work. I don't fight against HIV & AIDS because it logically makes sense to strive for this goal (although it does) - I, and most others in this line of work, do so because it causes us anger to see others unfairly put at risk, unable to access prevention strategies, treatment and support. It causes me emotional pain, and it creates internal motivation to make change. <br /><br />But science shows us the path to achieving these goals. We can use science-based approaches and learn about what works and what does not. For example, science has proven that harm reduction - rather than abstinence based policies - has better results. So we can employ these policies instead of just following our intuition or ideologies that may have ineffective or adverse effects. That's where I see science and emotion working together.<br /><br />At least in TNG Picard proved to be a highly ethical person, whose emotions seemed well aligned with his sense of right and wrong, and this co-existed with his highest regard for science, although even Picard was a somewhat closed, unemotional individual. Still, there were evidence of his emotions at the very least. Unfortunately, the most emotional person on the ship (not coincidentally a woman) proved to be flighty and um, a little dumb. So I think your theory stands in both series.Saver Queenhttp://saverqueen.com/noreply@blogger.com