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Taoism In Star Trek: Action Versus Inaction - Online Term Paper

Taoism In Star Trek: Action Versus Inaction

The Star Trek The Next Generation episode: "Booby Trap" shows a perfect
example of Taoist thought. The crew of the Enterprise is always taking some
action in order to achieve a specific goal. This episode shows that through
inaction you can sometimes achieve far more than you could through action. The
mind of the physical senses cannot grasp the concepts of the unnameable. The
crew of the Enterprise learn a valuable lesson on the nature of decision making
and how to do without doing anything.
The Enterprise is caught in an ancient trap that uses the starships own
power supply to destroy its occupants. The answer to the trap is to shut down
the engines; by generating no power the trap is ...

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undone."(pg. 38) The Master does not rely on
the world of the senses to decide her action.
Everything the crew of the enterprise tried to do was based on
overpowering the trap. "More energy, faster adjustments. But that's exactly what
we can't do because that's what we're supposed to do."(Star Trek La Forge) All
of the attempts to overcome the trap were based on action, trying to do
something about the problem. The Tao teaches us to "Stop thinking and end your
problems." The answer to all things surrounds us; but cannot be grasped by the
physical senses. The trap was symbolic of life; no action will bring the desired
end; why worry about what we do or do not do? The end will always be the same.
Taoism goes beyond the functions of sensual perception. The mind without
the senses is at one with all things. Geordi La Forge states that "the answer
is our own computer...the mind is the best piece of engineering we'll ever
need." Geordi La Forge grasped the idea that the mind or ...

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Taoism In Star Trek: Action Versus Inaction. (2005, November 19). Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Taoism-Star-Trek-Action-Versus-Inaction/36729

"Taoism In Star Trek: Action Versus Inaction." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 19 Nov. 2005. Web. 7 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Taoism-Star-Trek-Action-Versus-Inaction/36729>

"Taoism In Star Trek: Action Versus Inaction." Essayworld.com. November 19, 2005. Accessed January 7, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Taoism-Star-Trek-Action-Versus-Inaction/36729.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 11/19/2005 11:30:09 AM
Category: Arts
Type: Free Paper
Words: 637
Pages: 3

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