Philosophy in Battlestar Galactica

Philosophy has been called "the study of study itself", or "the study of thought". Philosophy, particularly the subfield of ethics, seems to figure prominently in the themes of many many episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Due to the very nature of philosophy as well as the way scripts are written and altered leading up to the production of television and film works, it should seem rather important not to attribute a given philosophy to any event or theme within the series in a concrete fashion. Whichever is true matters very little. Philosophy, whether written into a script or imagined in the mind of the viewer, seldom offers permanent or universal solutions to the various problems it can address. The nature and purpose of philosophy rest on clear, logical, and exhaustive thought.

Due to the definition and inherent nature of philosophy, the philosophical content of Battlestar Galactica can be as much in the minds of the viewers as in the minds of the writers, producers, and actors. It seems possible that part of the overall allure of Battlestar is that many viewers feel engaged and involved with the writing, which invites viewers to ponder and unravel some of the same questions that have occupied and continue to occupy the minds of philosophers from Plato to Strauss. In effect, a dialogue is created about the conditions of struggle of humanity and the nature of the universe.

philosophical content in BSG seems generally intertwined with the political, military, religious, economic, and social problems and concerns of both man and the cylons. The dilemmas that each group faces often raise common and perennial problems in philosophy- the concepts of justice, free will, determinism, and other philosophical problems.

Naturally, these dilemmas can occur within many other contexts such as law, politics, economics, sociology, criminology and occasionally over relating to specific issues involving sciences such as medicine, biochemistry and physics.

Human Philosophy

Human philosophy in Battlestar Galactica is strongly influenced by the [w:Polytheism|polytheistic]] human religion and the colonial culture that existed before the first Cylon attack. As the series progresses, the crises and dilemmas that the humans face influence their thought and decisions.

Cylon Philosophy

Cylon philosophy seems to be anchored by the monotheistic theology and religion and collectivist culture of the Cylons. Throughout the series, the Cylons seem to gradually evolve from a less tolerant version of monotheism to a more tolerant one that displays some elements deist, universalist, or unitarian theology- that is, some sort of all-encompassing, universal religion.

Examples of common philosophical dilemmas in BSG

As in the real universe, philosophical problems that arise in BSG seldom have permanent solutions.

Determinism: Sharon Valeri's acts of cylon treason, sabotage and assasination during her blackouts raise the question of determinism and free will. Valeri seems unable to control her actions due to having a sort of split personality, and the crew of Galactica jump to the conclusion that cylons are deterministically or genetically inclined to be malevolent toward humans. They base their treatment of cylon captives on this assumption.

Political: Tensions arise between Chief Tyrel and Admiral Adama. Adama's strict emphasis on the obedience of his crew and order within the Fleet, along with President Roslin's stewardship of isoteric values such as dignity, integrity, justice, and equality serve as a recurring theme.

Moral Dilemmas

Free Will/ Responsibility: The selfish and cowardly Gaius Baltar struggles continually with the concepts of personal responsibility and free will despite coaching from Caprica Six, who places emphasizes the importance of rational free will Caprica-Six. In "Taking A Break From All Your Worries", prior to interrogation under the affects of an hallucinogen, Caprica-Six asks Gaius Baltar if "without free will", he would have any dignity whatsoever- and whether "God can even pity such a creature". This may be a reference to Kantian philosophy which links human dignity to rational choice, free will, and accountability for one's actions as a recognition of dignity. Baltar struggles to grasp this concept throughout the episode, breaking down the elements of his past choices and later exclaiming "I am not responsible!", a sentiment reflected by Nazis during the Nuremberg Trials who claimed to have simply followed orders without question- following groupthink consensus without exercising their autonomy. Cylons eventually begin to defy consensus, act in their own interest, and make individual choices despite certain consequences.

Punishment of Cylons: The beating of Sharon Valeri by humans The beating and rape of Number Six by humans Summary execution through the airlocking of cylon captives