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Changes in Vulcan Beliefs (startrek.website)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Did Syrran’s teachings change the accepted spiritual and philosophical ideology of mainstream Vulcan society? ENT had the unique position of being a prequel to TOS. It at first presented mind-melds as a deviant act that was socially unacceptable. Moving into the 23rd century of TOS and the movies (I’m going on recall right now), the deviance seemed to have gone away. However the dangers of mind-melds held true even by the time of VOY. When ENT reached the three parter of “The Forge”, “Awakening” and “Kir’Shara”, the story specifically focused on katras.

It feels like the direction ENT was pointed, the people in charge of the big lore wanted to flip what we knew about Vulcan society. One of the major conflicts over the course of the series was the Earth-Vulcan relationship. Of course this was rooted in the Federation arch.

To clarify my question: did the rebellious teachings of a cult (T’Pol specifically calls the Syrrannites a “violent cult”), become the accepted beliefs over a century?

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I think one thing to add here is that spock was considered somewhat of an outsider with his half human hereditary. It's likely his use of the practice was part of his wider view of things. Also the reputation of mind melds may have improved via spocks reports and his strong character.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So the views on Vulcan society, were skewed by Spock? Are you saying his comments should be interpreted as having bias?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Its very likely that Spock had to grow up with his own view of what it meant to be Vulcan. They have drifted over time and he likely fastened to what he felt best represents the best of them. It's notable that he was a paragon of vurtue where as broadly some others didn't quite fit as well. Also he may have conveyed (without lying as such) a different view of things to the rest of the tos crew. Mostly they only had his version of things.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

He might also be something similar to Worf, in the sense of his being a much stronger adherent to traditional Vulcan culture than actual Vulcans might be.

We know that at the very least, TOS Spock prided himself on being emotionless, to the point of taking comparisons to being a walking computer as a compliment, to the point where at the start of TMP, he was about to undertake a ritual to sever him from his emotions.

Other Vulcans, or Vulcan-raised we've seen aren't nearly as adherent to that level, and I find it difficult to believe that any other Vulcan would take being compared to a computer particularly favourably.