Frances Tracy C.

Pasicolan

BS Management- Block B

Soc Sci 2- B June 26, 2012

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1- Episode 8 (Justice)

Stardate 41255.6 discovered a class M planet in the Rubicon Star System whose inhabitants are almost identical to Humans, and that they call themselves as Edo. Captain Jean- Luc Picard sent an away team to make some arrangements concerning some well-earned enjoyable relaxation. The away team was avidly greeted and welcomed by two Edos. They were even invited to the Council Chamber to find some enjoyment. The inhabitants of this planet do not walk but instead they run or jog along and they also wish everyone good health and happiness. While at the Council Chamber, Lt. Yar was talking with the two Edos about their laws. The Edo-lady said that they dont have police or law enforcement but instead they have mediators who select one area each day for a certain period of time. Both Lt. Worf and Lt. Yar were shocked to find out that the Edos has only one punishment- death. Edo-guy said The law is the law. Our peace is built on that. * Disturbed by this news, both Lt. Yar and Lt. Worf searched for Wesley. Wesley was playing ball with some Edos. He crashed into the greenhouse and destroyed the plants after he ran for the ball. Worse was that the mediators showed up. One Edo-boy explained to the mediators that Wesley was innocent because he doesnt know about the white fence that marks a restricted area but the mediators insisted on applying the law equally to everyone to avoid chaos. Wesley was saved by the other Star Fleet personnels from the mediator who was going to inject him with a poison. The mediators were disappointed to the Star Fleet for intruding with their law and that they thought they came to be friends. Meanwhile, the USS Enterprise- D was visited by a shimmering ball of light from a vessel that lies before them that appears to be not really there. The ball of light had a conversation with Capt. Picard about the Enterprises purpose for being there and that they should not interfere with its children below. The ball of light communicates with Data for an exchange of information, and thus, made him unconscious. After the exchange, the ball was gone but Data was still unconscious. Capt. Picard found out about Wesleys situation so he beamed himself. At the council chamber, Capt. Picard had a word with the two Edos about their system of justice. The Edo-lady guaranteed the Enterprise that Wesley was being held and that the pending of execution of his sentence is at sundown. Capt. Picard said that before, humans too had a capital punishment but it is no longer applied today because they learned how to detect the seeds of criminal behavior. Hence, capital punishment is no longer considered a justifiable

deterrent. Picard told them that he would not allow the execution of Wesley; however, he respects their rules and laws. The Edo-lady volunteered to as a hostage but Picard asked her if she can identify something for him. At the Enterprise vessel, the Edo-lady recognized their Edo-god, who said to be up there, protecting them and someone who exists both here and in another place. The Edo-god said return my child* and the vessel began moving closer. Picard hurriedly beams the Edo-lady back to their planet. Dr. Beverly Crusher, mother of Wesley, found out about the situation of his son and that she would not allow the Edos to execute her son but Capt. Picard assured her that he would not allow that to happen too regardless of the cost. Capt. Picard asked Data for further questions about what he had found out about the ball of light. Data referred it as they and told him that they know what he knows and that the Enterprise should not interfere with the Edos because the Edo-god is very protective of its children. Data said, If we violate our prime directive, they might consider us deceitful or untrustworthy How do they reason? How are their values?* And he even asked Capt. Picard, Would you choose one life over one thousand sir?* But Capt. Picard refused to answer back. Capt. Picard together with Dr. Crusher beamed themselves down. After they arrived at the Counsel of Chamber, Capt. Picard told the Edos that he would not allow Wesley to be executed just for a minor offense. He even said, Im truly sorry I must have justice for my people too.* Risking the wrath of the Edo-god, he gave an order to beam them up but nothing happen. He talked with the Edo-god, and even said There cant be no justice as long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions.* The transport worked and they were beamed up. Capt. Picard informed the Edo-gods vessel that they were going to leave. The vessel signaled. With Wesley saved from death sentence, the Enterprise departs.

* Excerpts from the dialogues of the characters from the TV series, Star Trek: The Next Generations Season 1, Episode: 8 (Justice)

The episode was difficult to understand at first hand. But as I have watched the video clip several times, it left me questions and concerns in regard to law and justice. Every state has its own laws. According to Random House Websters Dictionary, laws are rules established by a government under which people live. People must abide the laws. Without the laws, there will be no order and peace. But what will happen if someone breaks a law? Is it just to give death sentence to those who breaks the law or commits any crime no matter how big or small it is? Therefore, what is justice? If someone breaks a law or commits any crime, definitely, he will be punished. Todays punishment is imprisonment for a number of years. If the crime is so heinous, the punishment will be a life imprisonment. Before, we, humans execute those who break the law but right now, it is no longer applied. It is really just to execute a man for his crime? What if it is a small crime only? In my own opinion, it is unjust for us to have this capital punishment. Unjust because humans cannot take someone elses life because it is only God who can. If we do so, we will be breaking the Lords commandment- the fifth commandment, Thou shall not kill. No matter how big or small a crime is, one must not be executed because he can still repent for his sins and start anew. Capt. Picards line: There cant be no justice as long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions tells that having a severe consequence such as capital punishment is unjust. A state is imperfect as well as its laws. The law itself must have exceptions; laws without exception can never be just. Justice according to Plato must exist in a community as a whole as well as in the individuals. Justice is equality or fairness between individuals no matter what their status is, in the society. For the Philosophers, it is justice that makes a man capable of doing what is right, and being right in actions and in intentions. Therefore, justice is fairness. Fair in a way that it is applied equally to everyone. Justice is rightness too for it is doing what is right not just for yourself but the common good of the whole community, capable of preserving this convictions without being forced or bewitched into throwing it over (Curtis, 1961, p. 37).

References: Star Trek Episode:8 (Justice). (n.d.). Retrieved from en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Justice_ (episode) Justice [Season 1: Episode 8]. (1987). Thorne, W. (Executive Producer), & Conway, J. L. (Director), Star Trek: The Next Generation. UK VHS. Curtis, Michael, Ed. (1961). Great political theories. (Vol 1-2). Harcourt brace Jovanovich, Inc.