Comic #4197: the-star-trek-problem

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Description

Here’s a detailed, accessible description of the comic:

Panel 1: A character with dark hair, wearing a red Starfleet uniform, discusses a philosophical concept. Text: "In philosophy there’s a concept sometimes called 'the Star Trek Problem.'"

Panel 2: The same character continues, explaining a scenario involving a teleporter. Text: "When the teleporter breaks you apart and reassembles you on the planet's surface, doesn’t that mean 'you' are dead, and there’s just some copy of you on the surface?"

Panel 3: A second character, with lighter hair and wearing a yellow uniform, compares different views. Text: "There are a couple of ways to resolve it. Maybe there’s a soul that transfers between locations. Or, maybe persistent consciousness isn’t a meaningful notion, so nothing is lost in the teleportation."

Panel 4: The conversation shifts to the implications of the characters' beliefs. Text: "The weird thing to me is that the people in Star Trek are humanists, so they probably don’t believe in souls. And, they live in a post-scarcity society, so they don’t do their jobs for money."

Panel 5: The final panel features a starship, and the second character grinning, reflecting on their experience. Text: "…which really makes you wonder what was up with the teleporter operators. I've killed everyone I know hundreds of times! You’re welcome, society!"

Comic Source: The comic is from SMBC Comics, illustrated in a humorous style with characters in Star Trek-themed attire.