Star Trek and Determinism (character, episode)

[Ralph_Kirk]

Episode 10 of Star Trekiscovery plunges the Discovery crew into Star Trek's notorius "Mirror Universe."

As the crew comes to understand the characteristics of where they are, Captain Lorca briefly mentions the concept of destiny to Burnham. Burnham spurns the idea.

But, if Lorca is--as now seems more likely--a refugee from the Mirror Universe, it makes sense for him to talk about destiny, because the concept of a "Mirror Universe" requires a nearly perfectly deterministic universe, right down to the mating decisions made by every being, sapient and non-sapient.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

Episode 10 of Star Trekiscovery plunges the Discovery crew into Star Trek's notorius "Mirror Universe."

As the crew comes to understand the characteristics of where they are, Captain Lorca briefly mentions the concept of destiny to Burnham. Burnham spurns the idea.

But, if Lorca is--as now seems more likely--a refugee from the Mirror Universe, it makes sense for him to talk about destiny, because the concept of a "Mirror Universe" requires a nearly perfectly deterministic universe, right down to the mating decisions made by every being, sapient and non-sapient.

Were I a Vulcan I would refer you to the concept of IDIC --- Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

The Mirror Universe is a mirror universe, not the mirror universe. It is only one of potentially infinite possibilities. Some will be very, very close to one's home cosmos. Others will be different beyond imagination.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Were I a Vulcan I would refer you to the concept of IDIC --- Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

The Mirror Universe is a mirror universe, not the mirror universe.

Unless it is.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Were I a Vulcan I would refer you to the concept of IDIC --- Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

Interestingly, though, that was not Burnham's response (and she was graduated at the top of the class at the Vulcan Academy).

Burnham's response was the belief in free will. But the evidence they actually have in the fictional Star Trek universe points toward determinism, not free will. I thought it was interesting that a writer made note of that with the script written for the Lorca character.