Logic, Love, And Star Trek
Discovering Star Trek And The Vulcan Love Of Logic
One evening when I was a kid, I was having trouble sleeping. I turned on the little, 13 inch black and white television in my room and laid there in bed watching a movie I’d never seen before. We only got three stations, so my options were limited. I found a movie that hadn’t started too long before. Almost immediately, I was enthralled. That movie was Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. It was my introduction to the Star Trek universe, and I was instantly hooked.
One of the things I loved about Science Fiction and Fantasy in general, and Star Trek specifically, was the escape. My life wasn’t horrible, but I was bullied a bit, largely because I was heavier than most of the other boys. It was frustrating, and of course, hurtful. I didn’t like being hurt, nor did I like showing what I was feeling.
Star Trek’s Vulcan Science Officer, Mr Spock became almost an idol to me. I aspired to be as the Vulcans, ruled only by logic. They were emotionless, and my goal was to eliminate my emotion as well.
Several years later, I realised I was addicted to Star Trek. My life was consumed by my fandom. I realised I needed to quit Star Trek, but despite doing so, my desire to be emotionless remained.
Realising I’d Never Be A Vulcan
It wasn’t until a couple years into high school that I realised what I had done to myself. Though I had tried to cut myself off from all emotion, I had only succeeded in numbing myself to positive emotion. Frustration, anger, contempt, and depression were about all I could feel most of the time.
Fortunately, I had some great friends in high school. They may not have known what they were doing, but they helped me to find my emotions again and to know that it was OK to have and feel them. It was a long process, but they started me on that path.
Love, Logic, And Liberty
Sorinne Ardeleanu is an independent candidate for President of the United States this year. Her slogan is “Love, Logic, Liberty”. I find this insightful. Love and logic, when they properly blend and compliment each other is key to empowerment and liberty. Love, especially in this context, doesn’t have to mean romantic love. There are many types of love. If love is to be our guide and our goal, if it is to help us be empowered and live a life of liberty, we must love ourselves and love all humanity.
When we truly love we want the best for the person, people, place, or thing we love. That love guides our decision making. Sometimes though, love can lead us to unwise decisions, especially when it is unbridled.
Logic, on the other hand, can guide our decision making as well. When logic guides us, we do that which seems the best course intellectually. Untempered, this can cause our decisions to be cold and inconsiderate of emotions and others. Returning to Star Trek, the Vulcans’ logical absolutism led to the philosophy “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few or the one.”
There are times where this philosophy is justly applied. However, in our lives, in general, it must be tempered and balanced with love. Love prevents logic from being cold. Logic prevents love from making us too hot, or too passionate. Balance between the two helps us see and wisely choose the best answers and choices.
Balancing Logic and Love
Where the balance is between logic and love will look different for each person. Each of us is an individual. We all have different circumstances, preferences, desires, habits, interests, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Many of us tend more towards logic or love and emotion. Wherever that balance is for you is something you need to find and embrace. The problem is when one is entirely embraced, and the other is subsumed and denied.
I have serious questions about whether Vulcan society would thrive if it really existed. My own experience was that it was impossible to eliminate all my emotions, and I was worse off for trying.
I wonder how my tween and teen years would have been different had I embraced all of myself, including my emotions, instead of denying them and trying to kill them. In trying to kill my emotions, I wounded myself.
I’m grateful to have learned that I needed both logical thinking and the full range of my emotions to thrive.
Years later, there are still days where my logic and love are unbalanced. I suppose we all struggle with this our entire lives, to one degree or another. The closer we can come though to a consistent balance that is true to ourself, the more empowered we will be and the more we will thrive. Balanced logic and love empower us to build and live our best lives.
Where is the balance between logic and love or emotion for you?
How do you maintain the balance between logic and emotion on a daily basis?
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
If you would like to support the Life, Liberty, And Pursuit Of Happiness Project, please consider contributing to LLPHP via GoFundMe
