Synopsis: The Enterprise receives a distress signal from a freighter and end up rescuing individuals from two planets with a strong relationship to the cargo they were transporting.
In this episode, representatives from two neighboring planets, Brekka and Ornara, dispute the ownership of the cargo that was recovered, along with themselves, when the freighter carrying them broke up and they were transported to the Enterprise. As it turns out, the cargo is a narcotic that is the only cash crop on Brekka and that the Ornarans have become addicted to over centuries.
In the middle of the action there is an interaction between Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher. Crusher believes that she could offer a medical solution to the situation, which she perceives as a drug dealer praying on innocents, and Picard speaks to her about the importance of the Prime Directive:
Picard: The Prime Directive is not just a set of rules. It is a philosophy, and a very correct one. History has proven again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less-developed civilization no matter how well intended that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous.
Crusher: It’s hard to be philosophical when faced with suffering. (Lewin et al., 1988)
This is an illustration of the tension between the Logos-driven rational conscious ego, which is personified by Picard, and the Eros-driven feeling nature of the unconscious, as embodied by Crusher. This exchange is very reminiscent of the debates that often occurred in Star Trek: The Original Series between the characters of Dr. Leonard (Bones) McCoy and Mr. Spock. However, here the balance of power is asymmetrical. Instead of Spock and McCoy opining to Captain James T. Kirk who will ultimately make the command decision, here Picard is not only the embodiment of the conscious ego, but also the one in command. His words stating that his philosophy is “a very correct one” has him identifying with the god-complex, which shows inflation, A necessary step in the process of individuation, but also a dangerous phase in which there is the possibility that the psyche can become one-sided and believes in its point of view as the only one possible.
Reference:
Lewin, R., Manning, R, Beimer, H. (Writers), & Phelps, W. (Director). (1988, April 16). Symbiosis (Season 1, Episode 22) [TV series episode]. In G. Roddenberry (Executive Producer), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.
Original post created 31 May 2021
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