ABSTRACT
The notion of science and technology bringing with them "marvels" may seem a little outdated—even naive—in contemporary discourse. Gene Roddenberry's world, having seen the nightmarish mechanisms of the Holocaust and the atom bomb, was far from ignorant to the global threats posed by technological innovation. Roddenberry's projected universe is, at least in The Original Series (TOS) and The Next Generation (TNG), one in which Earth is part of a United Federation of planets, whose missions of space exploration are knowledge-seeking and peaceful. Part of Star Trek's appeal as a fictional universe lies in its own engagement with the concept of human imagination as a crucial tool for self-betterment, real-life decision-making, emotional exploration, and choice. Imaginary journeys often play a key role in the development of plot or character in Star Trek, or allow for a broad elaboration of a philosophical theme.
