Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast

Ferengi Virtue Ethics.  From the fur-wearing, whip-wielding villains of the early seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation to the more developed and nuanced Ferengi in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, profit is the underlying motive for practically all Ferengi action. In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison discuss Ferengi virtue ethics, or which character traits uniquely define the Ferengi. But is this drive for profit an essential biological or psychological Ferengi instinct, or is the drive for profit a culturally reinforced learned behavior? Join Zachary and Mike as they discuss the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition and the need for a kinder, gentler Ferenginar.  Chapters Welcome to Episode 55 (00:01:43) Initial Thoughts on the Ferengi (00:02:52) Rules of Acquisition: Rule-Based Ethics or Virtue Ethics? (00:06:25) Profitability as an Underlying Ferengi Virtue (00:11:02) Character Exceptions (00:14:35) Ferengi Ed-Tech: Quark Speak & Spell (00:18:23) Nature vs. Nurture - Instinc