Subject:
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The New Kobayashi Maru Test
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Sun, 30 Sep 2001 23:18:40 GMT
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Viewed:
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234 times
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Many of you may be familiar with the no-win scenario Starfleet Command test
called the Kobayashi Maru rescue simulation. The purpose of this test,
since the simulation ends in disaster in all cases, is to ascertain the
nature and character of the person taking the test.
The fictional Star Trek character Spock's solution to his own Kobayashi Maru
test is played out at the end of the film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan."
Spock's solution is summarized by the following quote: "The good of the many
outweighs the good of the few, or the one." So says Spock as he dies and
saves the lives of his fellow shipmates.
In "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" the shipmates that Spock saved in
the previous film take it upon themselves to save him in turn, following the
ethic spoken aloud by the character Kirk: "The good of the one outweighed
the good of the many."
In both cases what makes the ethical choice seem so heroic is that the
people making these decisions are making these decisions on behalf of
themselves -- their choices are predicated upon a notion of self-sacrifice.
Rarely, if ever, do we laud those who are willing to sacrifice others in
achieving the same goals.
Now I hate to go from something as silly as this fictional character test to
real life, but here it is...
We are currently engaged in a Kobayashi Maru test. We as a people are being
tested in a no-win scenario. We all die -- death is certain. What may
matter then is precisely how we chose to live our lives. How did we define
ourselves as individuals and as a society. When we are dust, only our words
and deeds may remain as testament to the value of our lives.
Now that we are confronted with America's "New War" we face significant
tests of our character as far as what we are willing to sacrifice in the
name of preserving our lives. Will we sacrifice the heritage of our
individual rights? Will we sacrifice the rights of others? Is it better
that we should preserve our lives at the expense of our way of life? Is such
a victory worth its costs?
-- Hop-Frog (true believer)
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