The Measure of a Man

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Star Trek: TNG episode
"The Measure of a Man"
Data's sentience is judged in "The Measure of a Man".
Episode no.	35
Prod. code	135
Airdate	February 13, 1989
Writer(s)	Melinda M. Snodgrass
Director	Robert Scheerer
Guest star(s)	Brian Brophy, Clyde Kusatsu, Amanda McBroom
Year	2365
Stardate	42523.7
Episode chronology
Previous	"A Matter of Honor"
Next	"The Dauphin"

"The Measure of a Man" is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast in 1989. It was written by Melinda Snodgrass.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

While the USS Enterprise-D is docked at a new Starbase for routine maintenance, they are paid a visit by resident cyberneticist Commander Bruce Maddox. Maddox was on the commission that years earlier determined Data's eligibility to enter Starfleet Academy; Maddox had cast the only dissenting vote on the grounds that Data, an android, was not a sentient being. Maddox explains that he wants Data to help him understand better how Dr. Noonien Soong was able to overcome certain problems when designing Data's positronic brain.

Data is intrigued until he discovers that it is Maddox's intention to download Data's memories into another computer, deactivate him, and then disassemble him. Data points out that Maddox doesn't have the neccessary knowledge to carry out this procedure safely, and so he refuses to undergo it.

Maddox then issues an order backed up by Starfleet command for Data to submit himself to disassembly. Picard refuses to allow Data to go along with the order and Data concludes that only his resignation will allow him to circumvent the order. Maddox, however, contends that Data cannot resign as he is the property of Starfleet, not a sentient being with rights.

Picard persuades Starfleet Judge Advocate General Philippa Louvois, who had previously court-martialled him over the loss of the Stargazer, to hold a hearing to determine Data's status. Having to use available personnel, the JAG officer drafts Commander Riker to represent the prosecution, and Captain Picard to serve as Data's defense counsel.

In the trial, Riker, who was ordered to do his best to prosecute Data or have the JAG Officer summarily rule against Data, presents an effective case of Data being property because he is merely a sophisticated machine. During a recess, Picard is all but ready to concede until Guinan points out that a ruling against Data having rights is tantamount to sanctioning slavery. Emboldened, Picard presents his defence by arguing that Data fulfills most of Maddox's own criteria for the definition of sentience. Furthermore, he notes that creating a race of sentient beings who are legally considered property, ergo slaves, is a profound affront to the ideals and principles of the United Federation of Planets, subsequently adding that all beings are technically created, but that does not make them the property of their creators. Impressed by these arguments, the JAG officer rules that Data has the right to self-determination; he is a machine, but he is growing beyond the sum of his parts.

Data reassures a demoralised Maddox that his research is intruiging and that one day he may be able to safely perform such a procedure. After the trial, Riker shuns the celebration in shame for the role he played in the trial. Data tells him that he is well aware that Riker did not wish to argue against Data, and is grateful that Riker caused injury to himself for his benefit. Data's wise qualities return Riker to good spirits.

[edit] Trivia

This episode marks the first appearance of the rare "Interim Admiral's Uniform" seen only in Season Two of the Next Generation series. The uniform had been created to replace the unpopular first season Admiral uniforms and rank insignia and introduced a new system of rank pips within "rank boxes". The rank boxes were worn vertically and would be replaced in the third season by horizontal boxes and the Admiral's uniform used for the rest of the Next Generation series.

The seventh season Star Trek: Voyager episode "Author, Author" paralleled this story in regard to the Emergency Medical Hologram. Due to the lack of holographic rights in the United Federation of Planets as of 2377, the Doctor has his literary work published against his will. The Federation Arbitrator in this case ruled not on the Doctor's sentience, but on the Doctor's artistic work, which was protected under Federation law.

This is the first episode to feature the poker game which would be worked into future episodes, including the very last scene of the very last episode.