Welcome to Trekspertise, a sequence the place we break down the expertise, historical past, particulars, and choices that make the Star Trek universe so complicated — and so enjoyable.
Again in 1966, when “Star Trek” was first airing, the character of Spock (Leonard Nimoy) captured the majority of the general public’s consideration. Spock, a half-human-half-Vulcan science officer, sported angled eyebrows and pointed ears, and at all times spoke in a relaxed, stentorian demeanor. As Spock defined many occasions on “Star Trek,” the Vulcan species was dedicated to a philosophy of pure logic, paired with an energetic try to rid themselves of all emotional impulses. Spock would generally have emotional outbursts, however for probably the most half he saved his cool. His impassive demeanor was an ideal steadiness for the passionate responses of Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and the well-reasoned however instinctual command of Captain Kirk (William Shatner).
However Vulcans did not at all times dwell this manner. It was said in early episodes like “Steadiness of Terror” and “Let That Be Your Final Battlefield” that Vulcans have been as soon as not less than as violent as people. In all probability moreso, on condition that Vulcans, physiologically, are stronger and have extra complicated brains than people. In episodes of “Enterprise” (set earlier than the occasions of the unique sequence), it was defined that Vulcans had develop into so violent and harmful sufficient that they started tipping towards nuclear self-annihilation. One can see a particular parallel between historic Vulcan society and the event of the nuclear bomb right here on Earth.
Fortunately, a savior got here by within the type of Surak, primarily the Vulcan Messiah. It was Surak that launched the concept of impassive logic as the premise for a society. This was, in accordance with the “Star Trek: Enterprise” episode “The Forge,” across the yr AD 300 on Earth. Vulcans have been unified beneath logic for a protracted, very long time.
Surak is actually the Vulcan Messiah
Within the “Star Trek” episode “The Savage Curtain,” Spock was allowed to satisfy Surak face-to-face (due to the psychic machinations of a species of residing, molten rocks). Spock, upon seeing Surak, skilled a second of real shock, a second he apologized for; it is unseemly to point out feelings in entrance of Surak. Spock referred to him as “The best of all who ever lived on our planet … The daddy of all we turned.” Surak is, when it comes to his significance, a mix of Plato, Confucius, and Jesus Christ. His introduction of logic as a life philosophy ushered in a interval in Vulcan historical past referred to as the Time of Awakening.
Though a determine of logic, Surak additionally has mythic qualities. In “The Forge,” he was stated to have walked throughout an enormous desert plain on Vulcan, and that his calm thoughts was so highly effective, it bodily cooled the deserts after the warmth of a current battle. That very same episode famous that Surak died of radiation poisoning, contracted by a nuclear bomb.
Surak did not flip the script for all Vulcans instantly. In “The Savage Curtain,” it was stated that high-tech Vulcan wars continued to rage whereas Surak was actively attempting to unfold his message of peace and impassive motive. Surak typically despatched pacifist emissaries to rival armies to barter, and the emissaries have been principally all killed. However Surak felt that it was logical to maintain attempting, and ultimately, after many useless emissaries, opened up peace talks. After that, logic swept the planet. Logic = peace.
Probably the most outstanding emotion Trekkies see Vulcans categorical is impatience. However then, should you needed to take care of smelly people on a regular basis (and our smelliness was talked about as not too long ago as “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds”), you’d get impatient too.
Vulcans nonetheless had taboos and secrets and techniques once they first met people
It also needs to be famous that Surak’s efforts additionally led to splinter teams among the many Vulcans, with some leaving the planet and deciding on Romulus to kind the villainous Romulan Star Empire. Others retained their passions and gathered into nomadic enclaves referred to as the V’tosh Ka’tur.
And Vulcans, whereas dedicated to logic, have been additionally — many centuries later — susceptible to secrecy, warfare, and violence. Followers of “Star Trek: Enterprise” will be capable to inform you about how mind-melds (invented due to CBS censorship) have been as soon as thought of taboo in Vulcan society, and it was thought that solely a secret minority may do them. Quite than logically welcome variations in accordance with the Vulcan philosophy of Infinite Range in Infinite Mixtures (or IDIC), the “melders” have been pressured to maintain their skills secret. This was all talked about within the “Enterprise” episode “Stigma.”
And this was all along with secret army maneuvers towards the Andorians and different warfare efforts. Though dedicated to logic, Vulcans had, by the 2150s (when “Enterprise” takes place), retained an impulse towards warfare and ways.
Weirdly, it was their publicity to the illogical, extra violent people that induced them to confront their errors and realign their society to be extra accepting. Vulcans and people, as explored all through “Enterprise,” have a tetchy relationship. Vulcans made first contact with people in 2063, and helped Earth get better from a postwar interval, aiding within the rebuilding of society. However on the similar time, Vulcans discouraged people from utilizing their very own warp engines to discover the galaxy; the primary Starfleet mission did not launch till 2151. Vulcans have the important thing to enlightenment and societal development by way of impassive logic, however additionally they have extra rising as much as do.
