The thing that offends Kirk so much about this scenario is that it gives officers a ethical license to not even try, something that is completely antithetical to his conception of being a Starfleet officer.
I mean, the thing is literally a test. Isn’t that just how a cadet fails it?
The scenario always ends with their simulated destruction, but that’s not what I mean.
If every outcome is considered equal, then how would it be useful to Starfleet? Or said another way, if Starfleet doesn’t care how cadets react to a no-win scenario, why does it need to know?
I always figured the failure conditions were things like cowardice or paralyzing indecision – character flaws unwanted in a leader.
I mean, the thing is literally a test. Isn’t that just how a cadet fails it?
Don’t cadets “fail” either way?
The scenario always ends with their simulated destruction, but that’s not what I mean.
If every outcome is considered equal, then how would it be useful to Starfleet? Or said another way, if Starfleet doesn’t care how cadets react to a no-win scenario, why does it need to know?
I always figured the failure conditions were things like cowardice or paralyzing indecision – character flaws unwanted in a leader.
Does leaving the ship to it’s fate count as cowardice?
That decision technically saves the most lives.
Yes, because you can’t know that a priori.