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This week’s podcast is the first in a new series of “Stargate Metaphysics!” Darren and David talk about the age-old topic of whether an artificial life form can be considered “alive.” For the Stargate franchise, the question is about Replicators — particularly the Asurans and other human-form Replicators, some of which are portrayed as very sympathetic characters. Are they alive? Are they sentient? And do they have rights?
But first we’ll run down the latest Stargate news, and give you a preview of our upcoming interview with Stargate composer Neal Acree.
SHOW NOTES
News Headlines:
- Morena Baccarin cast in V remake
Stargate Atlantis Season Five on DVD June 30
Universe Episode 9 is ‘Justice’
SCI FI Channel is changing its name
Site Features:
Discussion – Are Replicators Alive?
- Related Episodes:
“Nemesis” (SG-1 Season Three)
“Enemies” (SG-1 Season Five)
“Small Victories” (SG-1 Season Four)
“Menace” (SG-1 Season Five)
“Unnatural Selection” (SG-1 Season Six)
“Lifeline” (Atlantis Season Four)
“First Strike” (Atlantis Season Three)
“Be All My Sins Remember’d” (Atlantis Season Four)
“Fallout” (SG-1 Season Seven)
“Ghost In the Machine” (Atlantis Season Five)
“Entity” (SG-1 Season Four)
“Revelations” (SG-1 Season Five)
“New Order” (SG-1 Season Eight)
Related Links:
| This Week’s Listener Question: It’s our second installment of Open Line Night! Call in and tell us what you want to hear us talk about, ask a question, or share your thoughts on the past, present, and future of Stargate. |
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Next Episode: Open Line Night! We had so much fun the first time, we’re itching to do it again. Rather than choosing a single topic, we’ll talk about whatever you want us to talk about. Call and leave us a voicemail now!
Adria’s not in Season 9. Anyway, great podcast!
You mentioned that the Asurans are alive because they designed the beautiful architecture on Asuras. They did not. It is stated in Atlantis that they simply copied the designs of the most advanced beings they knew, the Ancients.
I loved most of Stargate’s baddies. From the first goa’ulds to some of Ori (ooooh, Adria baby) and even Replicators.
They all was sooo cute ^_^
In my opinion they are very much alive and they have the same rights humans have. People come in different hair, skin, eye colors, they have different heights and weights, plus the Azgard don’t look a lot like us, but they’re still alive, so the fact that Replicators are made of nanites shouldn’t matter. What defines humans is rationality and feelings. Replicators are more rational than most humans, and they show most of the feelings of 10 year old human children: – they have a programming (destroy wraith, never harm ancients, replicate,…) just like we have genetically transmitted information (… Read more »
I do not think replicators should be considered alive in the same sense that a human is alive. Is a radio alive because it can sing like a human? Is a doll alive because it can cry? Replicators in Human form are still replicators. Do they have sympathy?, if you imprint it into their database, then yes!. They are animated so I guess you could say they’re alive, but not in a biological Earth sense. And Sentient? In a metaphysical sense their astounding capabilities could command our respect. But in a purely human sense, are they sentient?. Yes, if you… Read more »