Difference between revisions of "Prime Directive"
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[[Image:Prime directive.JPG|thumb|right|Save the hippies!]]The '''Prime Directive''' is the [[Federation]] [[Starfleet|Starfleet's]] most important regulation. It forbids interference with alien cultures more primitive than the Federation. In [[TOS]], it was more of a loose guideline that was subject to the Captain's discretion, and Kirk was known to throw it out the window on more than one occasion. In [[TNG]], the interpretation is much more strict, and | [[Image:Prime directive.JPG|thumb|right|Save the hippies!]]The '''Prime Directive''' is the [[Federation]] [[Starfleet|Starfleet's]] most important regulation. It forbids interference with alien cultures more primitive than the Federation. In [[TOS]], it was more of a loose guideline that was subject to the Captain's discretion, and Kirk was known to throw it out the window on more than one occasion. In [[TNG]], the interpretation is much more strict, but Picard still disregarded it on more than one occasion without serious repercussions. | ||
In general, the Prime Directive forbids Starfleet from interfering in the politics of other cultures and from even allowing their true nature to be known to cultures that have not yet developed interstellar space flight. | |||
==Criticism== | |||
While envisioned as a moral restriction against the kind of cultural domination and contamination practiced by European nations colonizing Africa, the Americas, Australia, and other regions with less advanced technology, the Prime Directive is widely regarded as excessive in its restrictions on Starfleet intervention. On at least two occasions<ref>TNG "Pen Pals" and TNG "Homeward"</ref>, strictly following the Prime Directive would have resulted in the extinction of a sentient species; fortunately for the species involved, the Prime Directive was disobeyed in both instances. | |||
==References== | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category: Star Trek]] | [[Category: Star Trek]] | ||
Revision as of 15:07, 21 February 2008
The Prime Directive is the Federation Starfleet's most important regulation. It forbids interference with alien cultures more primitive than the Federation. In TOS, it was more of a loose guideline that was subject to the Captain's discretion, and Kirk was known to throw it out the window on more than one occasion. In TNG, the interpretation is much more strict, but Picard still disregarded it on more than one occasion without serious repercussions.
In general, the Prime Directive forbids Starfleet from interfering in the politics of other cultures and from even allowing their true nature to be known to cultures that have not yet developed interstellar space flight.
Criticism
While envisioned as a moral restriction against the kind of cultural domination and contamination practiced by European nations colonizing Africa, the Americas, Australia, and other regions with less advanced technology, the Prime Directive is widely regarded as excessive in its restrictions on Starfleet intervention. On at least two occasions[1], strictly following the Prime Directive would have resulted in the extinction of a sentient species; fortunately for the species involved, the Prime Directive was disobeyed in both instances.
References
- ↑ TNG "Pen Pals" and TNG "Homeward"