[Allan Hood]

I just rewatched the episode about Archer and Phlox trying to determine what to do with these two species. I understand that this is a foreshadow of the Prime Directive, of course, but Phlox did have the cure. Should they have given the cure or withheld it?

This reminds me of TNG: "Pen Pals," an awesome discussion by the crew. For whatever reason, I only saw it on TV once but it stuck in my mind since I was around ten.

"The Prime Directive is not just a set of rules; it is a philosophy... and a very correct one. History has proven again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous."
– Jean-Luc Picard, 2364 ("Symbiosis")

"There can be no justice so long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions."
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard (TNG: "Justice")

TNG Debate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mH-L6UCCAE

[Michael]

IMO the cure should have been given since they found it. I mean if someone secretly had a cure for a disease that plagues us currently and people found out. Imagine what would happen to the people that withheld it.

[Allan Hood]

IMO the cure should have been given since they found it. I mean if someone secretly had a cure for a disease that plagues us currently and people found out. Imagine what would happen to the people that withheld it.

Right, I totally agreed with Archer's first reaction. I think if Archer knew that Phlox had the cure, he would have given it to them.

[Chrome]

Archer did know Phlox had a cure - they talked about it in the mess hall. in the end, Archer agreed to not "play god".

I'd have to go with Phlox. I know, sounds terrible but they would get side-tracked every single planet, and basically be picking and choosing which species get to thrive. It shouldn't be up to them to decide.

[Allan Hood]

IMO the cure should have been given since they found it. I mean if someone secretly had a cure for a disease that plagues us currently and people found out. Imagine what would happen to the people that withheld it.

So you don't mind if it interferes with natural selection or evolution?

[Allan Hood]

Archer did know Phlox had a cure - they talked about it in the mess hall. in the end, Archer agreed to not "play god".

I'd have to go with Phlox. I know, sounds terrible but they would get side-tracked every single planet, and basically be picking and choosing which species get to thrive. It shouldn't be up to them to decide.

You're right, I just rewatched it. I thought his admission was in the private letter, I didn't realize he said it outloud, thanks for pointing that out.

That's true and a really good point. But, isn't that the point of the Federation? I feel like the development of warp drive shouldn't be the only benchmark, but alternate forms of intelligences and maturity, too. I feel like if they have the cure to anything, they should pass it on. I see things as Archer did originally.

[Chrome]

They weren't the Federation yet at that time, just some space explorers mucking about getting into trouble

It's tough calls really. Obviously if they were in the same situation, they'd (and myself) would want the cure. I wouldn't care about your fancy ship or technology, just cure us and give a chance to develop nifty stuff ourselves.

Lot of what-if stuff too. What if they did cure them, and it led to something worse - like the species develops a weapon and wipes out another species. What if we didn't help, and we had some phage like disease come into play, and the species we didn't help before has the only blood sample that could help. What if saving a species led to a population problem and the entire world suffered..............

I know, what if what if what if. That's why they just shouldn't interfere to begin with

[Allan Hood]

They weren't the Federation yet at that time, just some space explorers mucking about getting into trouble

It's tough calls really. Obviously if they were in the same situation, they'd (and myself) would want the cure. I wouldn't care about your fancy ship or technology, just cure us and give a chance to develop nifty stuff ourselves.

Lot of what-if stuff too. What if they did cure them, and it led to something worse - like the species develops a weapon and wipes out another species. What if we didn't help, and we had some phage like disease come into play, and the species we didn't help before has the only blood sample that could help. What if saving a species led to a population problem and the entire world suffered..............

I know, what if what if what if. That's why they just shouldn't interfere to begin with

Right, I know the Federation hasn't started, yet haha.

Everyone suffering would want a cure, and those with the cure should give it regardless of potential evolutionary affect. What makes warp drive the bench mark? Why not Warp 5? Or replicator technology? I don't see how a line can be drawn in the sand. I hope I'd survive the Academy with this attitude.

As for the "what if's," I totally agree. What if they go to war with Starfleet? What if they eventually blow up their planet? To me, that leads me back to helping people regardless of potential future outcomes.

Picard nails exactly what I'm thinking. He treats the Prime Directive the same way I would here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQP-OgZU8Kk

[Chrome]

There more like guidelines than actual rules! hahahaha

Love that episode too, that dude was great in Eureka.