A Starfleet officer, Commander Maddox, has a plan--to take Data apart in order to learn how he works and so he can make more. However, the Commander's competence is questionable and Data is worried that he won't be re-assembled properly and will, in effect, die. So, in order to avoid this possible fate, Date decides instead to resign from Starfleet. However, the Commander contents that Data is NOT a living, sentient being and cannot have the right to refuse to his disassembly. So, it's up to Picard to represent Data at a hearing in which his fate will be in the balance.
The questions as to what constitutes life, the rights of the individual and many other ethical considerations are discussed and made for interesting viewing. While I was NOT as bowled over by the episode as some (one considers it the best show from the series), it was a very good episode. Well crafted and worth seeing.
The questions as to what constitutes life, the rights of the individual and many other ethical considerations are discussed and made for interesting viewing. While I was NOT as bowled over by the episode as some (one considers it the best show from the series), it was a very good episode. Well crafted and worth seeing.