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Trek & long lifespans
steamwright
Member Posts: 2,820
I have to wonder: would a Trek civilization eventually be dominated (even if beneficently so) by those species with long life spans, such as Vulcans (possibly species who live even longer? Certainly the Admiralty could be dominated by beings who could serve for decades if not centuries. The same may be true for the Senate. After a time, species with shorter life spans, such as humans, might be seen as unseasoned, even immature, since they've no time to accumulate the vast amounts of knowledge, and hopefully wisdom, that the elder species have accrued.
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And yet humans have a thirst for the unknown and an inbred need for freedom that is the living blood of the Federation to seek out new worlds an meet new people.
hard to say. Vulcans are sort of an exception but in D&D for example, the long life span of some races is balanced by a more casual pace -- the 500 year old dwarf might never have set foot outside his home until reaching 200 years, for example, and thus his 200 extra years of "experience" might not mean much at all. Vulcans to some extent have issues as well ... tons of knowledge but not a lot of real world experiences and handicapped by logic almost as much as served by it, as demonstrated countless times. Vulcans remind me of the terminator scene where he knows how to hotwire a car in 10 seconds flat but not to look for the key that is is right there --- real world experience vs book learning 101, that sort of thing is.
But, since Humans, especially compared to Vulcans, "burn brighter and faster" as it were, are more likely to be moving toward achievements quicker, doubly so since they're Humans.
Look at how fast Humans as a species in Trek went from Cochrane meeting the first Vulcans to now.
So, I doubt it would happen.
Those conniving Vulcans, they are the Illuminati of Star Trek !
More interesting would be the core races bringing some essential strength to Federation. Sort of like Voltron: Andorians bring tactical expertise, Vulcans bring guiding philosophy and science expertise, Tellarites could have brought ship building skills or something.
But that's kind of behind the scenes stuff. To the OP's point, I think things like academia would likely be dominated by long lived species. But an egalitarian society would probably have more term limits and other measures aimed at fairness put in place. If not, humans are really the cannon fodder of the Federation as they have much higher breeding rates than other races.
Even by TNG, it was clear that a human could possibly live to be well over 100 years old, and not even have anyone bat an eye at it.
But there are two other reasons why it wouldn't happen:
1. The ideals of the Federation simply wouldn't allow it (though that could make for an interesting alternate universe tale).
2. Here in the real world it wouldn't happen simply because of how they'd never allow humans to be totally overshadowed by other species.
And although I used Vulcans as an example, they are not the only long-lived ones. Denobulans live long lives. Symbiotic Trill live many lifetimes. A year or two for host adjustment, and they could be right back at the top, should the new combination so desire (since each host's life defines how it will play out). The Axanar live 400 years. El-Aurians live several hundred years. Species-mother Horta can live 50,000 years. (assuming the non-canonical book viewpoint that at least some Horta join Starfleet).
With respect to Vulcans, I would not be surprised that societal pressures in particular, mean they tend to be in advisory and research roles. Also, patterns like Tuvok where he left Starfleet for 50 years, and then return, would be not uncommon, and almost encouraged.
Another good one is Liz Moon's Familias Regnant. The societal issues of nobles and rich people becoming functionally immortal (and thus not dying or going senile and letting the new generation take over) are a major theme.
— Sabaton, "Great War"
Check out https://unitedfederationofpla.net/s/
Hmm...that "second careers" bit has me realizing that "renaissance men" might be the way to go. Skilled in politics, diplomacy, art, architecture, engineering, music, etc. Much like Thomas Jefferson.
Actually that is even better. It then makes sense about how often we have cultured sides to some characters. Many of those interests become second careers.
Of course, there would still be some mega-experts in fields that stay with one thing for a long time.
In Picard's case he was also a diplomat and archaeologist.
then we have Soong... Who literally lived his chosen discipline.
My character Tsin'xing
why those greenblooded inhuman....:D
I'm trying to think of a Federation species that lives longer, but none come to mind. I believe that a species that lives for hundreds or thousands of years wouldn't be part of the Federation, they might be friends, but their perspective would differ too much.
Maybe a little like the First Ones from B5, although they are an extreme example, them being immortal and billions of years old. Oh, and you have to overlook the whole genocide thingy and planet destroying.