(XVII) STNG: "The Measure of a Man." -- Get a ruler and find out

In this episode, the Enterprise is docked at a Star Fleet station I'm supposing. There is no explosive action, but rather a lot of socializing with other soldiers of Star Fleet and making dinner plans. Well in this episode, the rising action begins when a Star Fleet commander/scientist, Maddox, obtains permission from Star Fleet to assume command over Lt. CMDR Data, a unique android of amazing ability serving aboard the Enterprise. Maddox's intention was to disassemble Data, understand the workings of his being, and duplicate him in the thousands. Maddox's motif was well-intentioned but Data observes that his research omitted certain obstacles, and was consequently not safe. The Captain of the Enterprise, Picard, was of the same opinion and refused to transfer Data under the command of Maddox. Picard argued that he wouldn't tolerate any potential harm on Data because he was a well decorated and prized commander of the fleet. Since orders from Star Fleet couldn't easily be challenged, Picard suggested that Data retire in order to evade Maddox's intentions. Maddox consulted again with Star Fleet command, and they declared that Data, being an Android, was property of Star Fleet. Hence he could not go against any of their orders. Picard consulted the rule book and found that he could challenge Star Fleet's decision in trial, so a momentous trial (the likes of Brown V. Board of Education) was arranged to essentially decide whether Data was just property or worthy of fair treatment as a human being.

Picard obviously pitted himself as the defendant, but awkwardly enough, following some Star Fleet regulation, a member of the Enterprise, Riker, was forced to argue against his own friend as the prosecution. During the trial,one major issue was brought into question; Data's sentience. This had to do with his intelligence, self-awareness, and consciousness. Riker called Data as a witnessed and toyed around with the fact that Data was just a machine. He was created by man, can be disassembled and rearranged, and can be turned off with the push of a button. To conclude his argument, he compared Data to Pinocchio (in terms of his functions not actions). This was a tough argument to bring down, so Picard called for a recess. During recess, Picard obtained a great defensive argument from none other but Whoopi Goldberg...for real. She said there have always been disposable creatures in the history of many worlds. Creatures you could just use and dispose of without caring about their welfare and feelings. This was a direct reference to slavery, and what the fate of Data's kind shall be if Maddox successfully made an entire race of Datas. So Picard carried this argument to the trial, and called Maddox as a witness to prove that Data was a sentient creature. Maddox was question about Data's intelligence, and it was undeniable that Data was probably the most intelligent being in the universe, capable of learning new things around him just as well as humans. Picard asked Data if he was aware of where he was and why, and Data explained that he was a trial which would determine his fate; proving that he was aware of his situation. Picard referred to the articles which Data packed in his little box when he thought he was going to retire, and in there were items of sentimental value to Data; like the 'picture' of a human lady whom Data was intimate with (shocking right? I wonder if his electrical circuits literally shocked her during times of deep intimacy, since he claimed to be fully 'functional') Picard ended up winning the case with his argument about slavery, and Data was given the power of choice as a human being. Maddox was disappointed but Data reassured him that he will be glad to submit to Maddox's procedure, but only when his research had overcome its flaws.

Data was made for Star Fleet's use. He is a machine but learned and developed human sentimental qualities over time. He was made in man's image, and it should come of no surprise that he eventually developed man's values. Given these qualities, is he indeed worthy of fair treatment as a human being? I think so. Even Maddox reconciled with this reality at the end of the episode, when he addressed Data as 'he' for the first time (hitherto he referred to Data as 'it'). I think Battlestar Galactica shows a scenario which was evaded in this episode of Star Trek. The Cylons, which are as sentient as humans, were relegated to the position of slaves under human control. After watching Caprica, I believe the Cylons are even more sentient than Data, given that they were humans before being transferred to mechanized bodies. The Cylons obviously developed hatred the human race, and eventually broke-out in a vicious fit of vengeance. Do I feel sorry for humans? Yes, but they had it coming for them by using sentient creatures as disposable property. The humans could face up to their mistakes and negotiate with the Cylons, but I think it's to late. At this point of BSG, it's either us or them.