Star Trek's Optimism Towards the Future

I've been watching the OG Star Trek series, having never consumed any of the TV shows before, and I've been surprised at how refreshingly optimistic its take on humanity has been. It's a stark contrast to the dystopian visions that dominate much of contemporary science fiction, I.E The Hunger Games, Blade Runner, Snowpiercer, and Black Mirror. As a millennial who grew up on such bleak narratives, the setting of Star Trek feels foreign.

Science fiction, unlike fantasy, often strives for a sense of plausibility. The shift toward dark, dystopian futures within the genre mirrors my generation's growing pessimism. Millennials and Gen Z have witnessed economic struggles, the escalating effects of climate change, and increasing social division. Understandably, this has shaped our outlook on what lies ahead.

That's not to say that there aren't people who are optimistic about the future though. Effective Accelerationism (E/acc) challenges this pessimistic trend. Like the techno-optimists and transhumanists of the past, E/acc supporters embrace technological progress and the potential of Artificial Intelligence. They reject the notion that the future must inevitably be bleak. While I'm not sold on the E/acc crowd, I also generally have a positive outlook on the future. It certainly makes thinking about the world I will inherit as I grow older a less daunting task.

It's also worth noting that this pessimism overlooks significant advancements in the last 15 years. Consider the rise of smartphones, breakthroughs in AI and deep learning, the promise of CRISPR gene editing, reusable rockets, and immersive VR experiences. These examples suggest that while the challenges are great, our trajectory isn't entirely negative. For example just this year, Make-A-Wish downgraded Cystic Fibrosis as an automatic qualifier for wish granting, due to ongoing advances in care. That's incredible and should be celebrated.

I don't think Star Trek's optimism is sourced in blind faith in progress. The show acknowledges social issues and conflict but envisions a humanity that has overcome its worst impulses. Perhaps we can draw inspiration from Star Trek, not to disregard the challenges we face, but to rekindle a sense of measured optimism. What if we imagined solutions along with the problems? What if we believed that progress, while never guaranteed, remains possible?

It's natural to be concerned about the future, but we shouldn't let pessimism cloud our ability to find solutions. The future is ours to shape, and perhaps a spark of the "Star Trek spirit", that belief in our potential to work together and build a better world, is what we need to chart a brighter course. Anyway, just some thoughts I had as we go into the weekend.

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Hi 👋 my name is Diego Crespo and I like to talk about technology, niche programming languages, and AI. I have a Twitter and a Mastodon, if you’d like to follow me on other social media platforms. If you liked the article, consider liking and subscribing. And if you haven’t why not check out another article of mine listed below! Thank you for reading and giving me a little of your valuable time. A.M.D.G