The Prime Directive is Immoral

Remember The Prime Directive from Star Trek?  It is Starfleet's General Order #1, the most prominent guiding principle of the United Federation of Planets.  And it is totally and 100% morally bankrupt.

The Prime Directive is defined thusly:

WHEREAS, the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred.

WHEREAS, interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the United Federation of Planets, in meeting duly assembled, accepts and supports the following findings: No Starfleet personnel may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture.  Starfleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship, unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.

The Prime Directive violates morality since this moral behavior should be preferred (or proscribed) for all Starfleet personnel in all places at all times (i.e., universal).  Starfleet is included as a protected culture since no exemption of any culture is listed.

For a proposition to be defined as moral, it must advocate a logically consistent set that violates The Prime Directive, such as “do not interfere.”

Anyone who argues for The Prime Directive must do so using clear language, arguments, logic and evidence; all based on the principle that truth is better than falsehood.

Clear language, argument, logic and evidence (and a universal preference for truth over falsehood) are all examples against The Prime Directive because the United Federation of Planets can only argue The Prime Directive by violating The Prime Directive.  This assumes anyone who argues is acting on the premise that clear language is universally preferred to gibberish, logic to illogic, and truth to falsehood.

Since The Prime Directive can be opposed by accepting the premise of The Prime Directive, it must stand as an invalid concept.

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog