<p>Devin (Left Nietzschean) joined me to discuss the underlying philosophical themes of Star Trek, including a potential affinity with Nietzsche as regards the need for self-overcoming as opposed to utopia; the idea of moral &quot;perfectionism&quot;, interpreted through &quot;Schopenhauer as Educator&quot;; interpreting the political positions and critiques of the show in their cultural context, as regards the significance of the Federation, Borg, and Dominion; the distinctive traits of each captain in classic Trek, including an interpretation of Kirk as an Odysseus figure; the depressing inability of &quot;New Trek&quot; to articulate a positive vision of the future, instead choosing to wallow in dystopia.</p><p><br></p>