In episode 9 of season 6:'The voyager conspiracy' of Startrek Voyager, Seven of nine downloads a lot of information into her system through her alcove, 'learn while you sleep' and finds herself waking up with newfound insights due to links her brain makes between all the new bits of information.
At first this seems useful as she discovers connections between the spices Neelix bought a few months back and the power conduits losing their resolution.
In short: It appears the spices contained larvae of Photonic fleas that, when hatched, flew out into the nearest sensor grid that was open due to repairs Ensign Kim was making. The mating pair of photonic fleas and their offspring were since then feeding on the plasma particles in the conduits. Hence the power conduits losing their resolution. And hurrah! they are then able to correct it.
But the next night she downloads even more information and her brain starts seeing connections between random facts and starts spinning conspiracy theories while she tries to make sense of it all.
She then ends up having two different conspiracy theories backed up by the same facts.
Now what does that tell us?
As Tuvoc says, she uses circumstantial evidence to build her case(s).
And the fact that the same facts can be used to back up two entirely different theories proofs that these facts are nothing else then circumstantial evidence.
The conspiracy theories are just that, theories and suspicions without real proof.
"That is a logical, though highly speculative analysis." is all Tuvoc has to say about that.
Meaning: Could be true, could not be true...
Another one of his sayings:
'Speculation is not evidence.'
When Seven of nine asks commander Chakotay to meet her in the astrometric lab to tell him her suspicions that Captain Janeway stranded the Voyagers crew in the Delta quadrant on purpose and shows him her 'evidence' for it, he says:
'Conjecture!' Meaning:an opinion or conclusion on the basis of incomplete information.( Oxford dictionary)
She answers with:
'Extrapolation!'
Meaning: The action of estimating or concluding something by assuming that existing trends will continue or a current method will remain applicable.
Or in Mathematics: The extension of a graph, curve, or range of values by inferring unknown values from trends in the known data. (Oxford dictionary)
So they don't agree on what is valid evidence.
What do you think makes valid evidence?
The discusion continues and ends with Chakotay saying:
'You've uncovered some interesting facts, but your interpretation is farfetched. These are random incidents. Granted, some of them are hard to explain, but there's no conspiracy here.'
The next morning after downloading even more information Seven of nine comes to a different theory and she calls captain Janeway to the astrometric lab to tell her about the Maquis deceiving her under guidance of Commander Chakotay. Janeway's reply is: Circumstantial evidence, not proof!'
At the end of this wonderfully clarifying episode Seven of nine gets paranoia because she sees too many links everywhere and her mind can not stop to try and make sense of it. Captain Janeway has to come to the rescue by reminding her how she has never betrayed her trust and of all the good things that have happened between her and Seven of nine, that have led to Seven growing as a human being. Seven then comes back down from up in her head to her heart and stops feeling paranoid. Aaaw!
(The episode is really worth watching!)
With all the conspiracy theories going around about the lockdown due to Corona virus, I wanted to use the story told in this episode of this amazing series to illustrate these highly important principles of circumstantial evidence, conjecture and extrapolation. I wanted to start you thinking on what makes for valid evidence, with the knowledge of these principles.
I do not mean to say that none of the conspiracy theories out there hold truth. I don't know. Like Tuvoc said 'Speculation is not evidence' So I leave it open, though some I dismiss as too far fetched.
Personally I prefer lists with facts that I can base my own conclusions on. That is a safe way to go.
Have I got you thinking?
If so, care to share?
Love Womnloom
(Picture found on: https://www.themarysue.com/what-we-can-learn-from-star-trek-women/)
I'll have to go re-watch that episode, don't recall it. Recently finished going back through DS9, and I'm watching TNG now :-)
I think it's very important to stick to actual theories, versus baseless claims like so many want to go for. There have definitely been a LOT of those flying around about CV, but they're always floating around about whatever's happening in the world it seems. Most people, when they realize that the government/corporations have been lying to them their whole lives, jump right past critically thinking and questioning things, and go straight to just disbelieving everything the government says, and believing everyone who speaks against government. No increase in thinking for self, logic, etc. Just switching who the "authorities" are.
That's why I always include the sources for things in my articles, and generally stick to laying out the facts for people to see, rather than imposing the patterns I see.
That's really the big issue, which most don't account for in their lives: human brains are pattern-recognition machines over anything else. We always find patterns, even when they don't exist.
Yay, my writing got someone's interest!!! Lol! Thank you 😀
Wow, Yes, humans ARE pattern recognition machines aren't they? I thought that was just me...
Critical thinking has not been taught in many schools it seems, or they left important parts of it out. I guess I was lucky with quite a good history teacher who taught us this through history of politics in high school. Good teachers are hero's.
Yes, do watch that episode, if you don't recal it, that means you 're good for another round of Voyager! Lucky you, I'm almost through mine again. I'm not real good with the abreviations. DS9 is deep space nine and what is TNG? Have you written anything lately that you'd like me to read an comment on?