Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 135: The Quality of Life [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The question of sentience versus property and the right to use it as seen fit by those considered sentient is once again in question as a brilliant scientist comes aboard the Enterprise with two things in her favor: a particle fountain that the Federation might have use for, and her invention of the portable repair crew she uses to do work that would take others hours: the Exo-Comps. Data realizes that the exo-comps are becoming sentient and are therefore alive, but everyone else seems to think he is mistaken, so Data has to make them realize this the only way he can when all other tests and their results fail to convince them; he traps Geordi and Captain Picard on the particle beam station as the beam is about to explode. Only through expressed consent of the exocomps can Picard an Geordi be rescued at the sacrifice of one of the little machines. And as a result, a better understanding of both the machines and Data formulate. It's a great episode in the exploration of both the extent of humanity's understanding of artificial intelligence and how much life should be cherished, whether man-made or nature born.

Not bad as far as the adventure and stuff. But, Data's argument for the exocomps being sentient rings a hollow. Just because something is alive doesn't give it "rights" in sense of human rights (I mean, how many people would want to make it illegal to slap mosquitos because their alive? Not many I presume.) Now, yes, I recognize that they later prove that the robots are indeed far more intelligent than just exerting self-peservation. It just bothers me that first of all: Data is so bent of believing that the exocomps are alive that he's willing to sacrifice Picard and Geordi (who are definitely alive) and two, that he doesn't think of the obvious (asking the exocomps). It also drives me crazy about that, if you make too smart of a computer, it may become alive and therefore deserves rights and we can't use it anymore without asking it. Like I said, a fair episode, but nothing really that great. Gets 3 stars.