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From: barmar@mit-eddie.UUCP (Barry Margolin)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: On Humans and Vulcans
Message-ID: <255@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 22-Feb-86 03:38:04 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.255
Posted: Sat Feb 22 03:38:04 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Feb-86 02:29:33 EST
References: <1428@panda.UUCP>
Reply-To: barmar@eddie.UUCP (Barry Margolin)
Distribution: na
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 27

In article <1428@panda.UUCP> plw@genrad.UUCP (Pete Williamson) writes:
>One of the themes that I really dislike is: "the intuitive, emotional,
>Human way is far better than the logical, un-emotional, Vulcan way."
>The major vehicle for this theme has been the character of McCoy.  Now
>that I think of it, I've never really liked McCoy.  The whole business of
>intuition vs. logic is foolish chiefly because Senior Officers on ships
>like the Enterprise could only rise to major leadership positions by being
>able to apply BOTH logic and intuition to all critical situations.

I think you misunderstand McCoy.  From many examples it is obvious that
he has a highly logical mind, as does Kirk.  However, they combine this
with an emotional side.  The McCoy argument is that BOTH are necessary
for good judgement.  Vulcan's attempt to use only one, and therefore
tend to be cold and computer-like.  Much of "Journey to Babel" (the
episode with Spock's parents) was devoted to exploring this theme, and I
think it was done very well.  The arguments between Sarek and Amanda,
between Kirk/McCoy and Spock, and between Amanda and Spock, highlight
this philosophical problem.  I think the general feeling among the
humans in the show is that logic may be useful for basic decision
making, but emotions are necessary for proper social interaction.  "The
Galileo 7" (the one with Spock, McCoy, and other crew members stranded)
explores this by showing the callous decisions that are made solely on
the basis of logic, without concern for people's feelings.
-- 
    Barry Margolin
    ARPA: barmar@MIT-Multics
    UUCP: ..!genrad!mit-eddie!barmar