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The problem with a lot of sci-fi is that if you considered what effects the technology would truly have on society you very quickly get a situation that is so different from the common experience of the audience that most can't easily get on board any more.
If the Federation allowed the full range of genetic engineering that we know they have the tech for, nobody would get old or die of natural causes. Gender and even species would be fluid. People could have arbitrary numbers of parents, or family relationships that the word "parent" doesn't meaningfully apply to. I would love to watch a show in a setting like this but I suspect that my taste wouldn't be so common. And the special effects and makeup budgets would skyrocket.
So alas, I suspect the prohibition will remain.
The Federation's ban on AI and GE also has tinges of authoritarianism that run counter to the liberal ideal it's supposed to represent. Say some planet in the Federation takes a different view of these issues, and wants to create a race of super-Datas and give them equal rights, are we expected to believe that the rest of the Federation will show up to bust down their doors, like some kind of space-DEA?
It's not just story-technical. It's also a connonical issue. The federation is, by al means, equal. Everyone is equal. Personal ambition can be achieved by merit. If you'd introduce genetic engineering (GE) in the mix, you'd have a system where personal ambition can only be achieved through GE. People are forced to GE thrmselves, or the'll be left behind. The federation doesn't need currency, but GE could become the new currency where only those qith the right and enough GE get the best treatment.
Except the Federation is very much not equal. There's plenty of genetic variation within species and a much larger variation between species. Vulcans live hundreds of years and have telepathy, humans die after just one hundred and are brain-blind. Bashir was born with severe genetic defects. Geordi was blind, and then he could see better than baseline. There are differences in fundamental capabilities everywhere.
Genetic engineering would allow those advantages to be shared by everyone. It annoys me how hypocritical the Federation is about this issue.
@FaceDeer @startrek Modern Trek has *really* pushed both the opposition to genetic enhancement and the prohibition of sentient AI. I suppose it is kinda in keeping with the “humanism” of the source material, but it seems like a blinkered view of the future. (I contrast it with the similarly post-scarcity Culture novels, where both biological modification and artificial Minds are common.)
Haven't heard of culture. Looking for a new book series to read. Is good?
Yes! Very good. Ian M Banks
I'll check it out! Thanks!
Started the first book. Just finished the chapters Clear Air Turbulence. I was hooked from the prologue!
It also occured to me, I haven't read much scifi. I watch a lot of scifi, I read a lot of fantasy. I haven't read much sci-fi, so it's kind of fun that it's something new to me that I'd never really considered was missing until now. Thanks for the rec!
Well said, that is my take as well. There a difference between equality and everyone has the same capabilities and potential
Something better left to (say) the Culture books, rip Banks