The Ethics of Star Trek: Autonomy and Society

Through the course of this discussion, various points have been touched on, ranging from the history of humanity, implications of cloning, moral frameworks, and culture. While a lot of it must be viewed through the lens of a TV show script and subsequent assumed events, a few hard points of relevance were available from the episode in question that we can decipher what morality the Star Trek universe operates around, as well as what solutions can be potentially employed.Here are some of the highlights:Culture: The Mariposan Clone colony were stuck between a rock and a hard place with little means of recourse. While the exact time frame is debatable, history or recent history dictated how fast moral hazard can be found with using the human genome to serve your purpose. Clearly, the cloned colony was intended to be one of science, a budding culture away from Terra for reasons of their own devices, though it could be safely assumed that depending on self replication via cloning was not part of it. If the goal is to re-align the colony with what the founders wanted, surely mugging those whom have come to help for prime cloning cells should have no part in it, and drugs or 'punitive laws' regarding sexual reproduction wouldn't be a requirement either. Cloning: on the table is whether or not making copies of a person risks moral turpitude, or strays into 'genetic engineering'. Pro would argue that yes, from the information present, what the colony engages in could easily be construed as a immoral as it continued post Star Fleet's renewing of ties. The reason for cloning was now obviated: fresh genetic stock, whole enclaves of scientists and those dedicated to their cause could be found. Starting from Diana's first warning that the Prime Minister was 'hiding something', to the kidnap and stealing of tissue from Enterprise crew members, to the ultimate end where the colony's sole population is comprised of Riker and Pulaski clones, this situation was one that could be avoided with the arrival of the Enterprise and the subsequent trade it could have brought.Moral Framework: Pro would like to think 'bodily autonomy' would be in of itself enough of a guide. Its my body, my cells, my DNA. If you are denied its use, find alternate means. With regards to the Mariposans Clones, that 'alternate means' was as simple as asking StarFleet to 'put us on the map', and accepting new members into the society. A lesser of two evils pales in comparison to NO evils being done, and that solution was possible if patience ruled the day. Instead, we are forced to look at the implications from what has been stated in the episode. Riker and Pulaski were NOT willing to be cloned. Riker and Pulaski, against those wishes got cloned. This means that the clones created would be spitting images, complete with their own intelligences that they were cloned, against their wishes, and it posits the question how much help they would really be to the colony. Of course, the other possibility is that they are cloned with one or two tweaks in design to prevent that opinion from occurring to make the clones more compliant... such would be a most beneficial augmentaction.As it was asked:"If they had been able to correct for the fading or if they had been able to engineer the genome somehow, why would they need that DNA? " --- replicative fade is just making a copy of a copy of a copy. Using a copied engineered genome over and over again doesn't solve the problem, it just makes for more efficient copies. Pro did admit, though, that such was speculation. The lab was there, the clones were there, it would make perfect sense to engineer a labor class, were not such a thing frowned on. In either case, Khaan,... I mean, Con is correct, there is no evidence of what was banned taking place, as viewed through the lens of that episode. Conclusion:The cloning of themselves was obviously not what the 'Founders' had in mind for their new society. The concept of cloning, at the time the Mariposan Colony ship left earth was the foundation for some of the largest conflicts Earth had seen. Cloning, in general, throughout the StarTrek universe resulted in diplomatic chaos, to cold blooded murder. StarFleet itself never made use of cloning to a means for anything, refer to Captain Janeway whom very well could have benefited from a cloner's mentality for people rather than potatoes. The means for the Mariposans to acquire new genetic stock for fresh clones constitutes theft in the Episode in question. Cloning doesn't lead any place beneficial. With so many frailties, and moral complications, why continue in a process that is no longer needed? Why continue in a process that was so obviously not in line with what the 'Founders' hoped for when trekking out from Terra? Why kidnap and hold hostage 2 people, and their successive clones for a method that is convenience rather than necessity? The morality employed by the Mariposans fast falls apart when given the chance to look beyond themselves. I would urge the gentle readers present to NOT fall for the trap that the Mariposan clones laid for themselves. I would urge the gentle readers present to consider what ultimate end the Mariposan colony has for itself, and the new culture it would have to adopt, one of kidnapping and assault, to continue. I would urge the gentle readers present to ask what benefit or solution to the Mariposan replicative fade issue was being permanently employed rather than delayed by such an assault and theft.I would urge the gentle readers present to vote Pro, that the forced cloning of StarFleet officers by the Mariposan Colonists, because it was demonstrably obsolete, because it served no purpose to a sustainable solution, and because it was NOT within the Founder's plan of a colony, was indeed wrong. Thank you.