About 20 years ago, I taught a college course titled: “Philosophy and Star Trek.” I also remember the original Star Trek series premiering on TV in 1966 and I’ve seen all of the original episodes multiple times.
Here are some particularly philosophical episodes from the original series, with the caveat that such lists are subjective and I’m probably omitting some classics. (Episodes in bold are particular favorites.)
Title Subject
amok time desire
who mourns for adonis? gods
mirror, mirror parallel universes
return to tomorrow robots
let that be your last battlefield cold war
the cloud minders economics
all our yesterdays time
As for Star Trek the Next Generation, my all time favorite episode is “The Inner Light.” While I don’t know the series as well as the original one, here are a few I’d recommend for the philosophically inclined.
Encounter at Farpoint humanity
Remember Me memory
Relics aging
Best of Both Worlds power
Clue lying
The Measure of a Man artificial intelligence
Elementary, Dear Data reality
Ship in a Bottle reality
All Good Things time
Q Who power
Tapestry choices
Yesterday’s Enterprise time
The Inner Light meaning
Thine Own Self reason
The Drumhead conspiracies
Darmok language