Cover Image: December 2002 Scientific American Magazine See Inside

The Captain Kirk Principle [Preview]

Intuition is the key to knowing without knowing how you know

By Michael Shermer















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Michael Shermer

Image: BRAD HINES

Stardate: 1672.1. Earthdate: October 6, 1966. Star Trek, Episode 5, "The Enemy Within."

Captain James T. Kirk has just beamed up from planet Alpha 177, where magnetic anomalies have caused the transporter to malfunction, splitting Kirk into two beings. One is cool and rational. The other is impulsive and irrational. Rational Kirk must make a command decision to save the crew, but he is paralyzed with indecision, bemoaning to Dr. McCoy: "I can't survive without him. I don't want to take him back. He's like an animal--


This article was originally published with the title The Captain Kirk Principle.



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