I just watched Measure of a Man, they rule Data has the right to choose. But in Voyager the EMH gets relegated to forced servitude. Why? Doesn’t that violate precedent?
I just watched Measure of a Man, they rule Data has the right to choose. But in Voyager the EMH gets relegated to forced servitude. Why? Doesn’t that violate precedent?
I think the implication is that Data only has rights because he’s hardware and incredibly hard (maybe impossible) to copy. Essentially, he has rights only because he’s no real threat to the status quo.
Edit: I think this line of reasoning also dovetails with genetically modified humans being ostracized and having to live in hiding, because they too threaten the status quo.
-Tasha Yar, probably
Or because he can die. E.g. if he’s destroyed that’s it. While the EMH can be copied
I’d argue, however, that each instantiation has its own memories and experiences making each of them unique sentient beings