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IDIC was an acronym for Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations , the basis of Vulcan philosophy , celebrating the vast array of variables in the universe . The philosophy, as well as the Vulcan people, were often represented by a triangle-over-circle insignia , referred to as an "IDIC." ( TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ", DIS : " Will You Take My Hand? ")

• 1.1 As a Philosophy
• 1.2 As an Emblem
• 2.1 References
• 2.2 Background information
• 2.3 External links

History [ ]

The IDIC on Surak's katric ark

In the Vulcan language , the term for "infinite diversity in infinite combinations" was Kol-Ut-Shan . ( VOY : " Gravity ")

IDIC symbols were in use at least as early as the 4th century AD , as one appeared on Surak 's katric ark . According to Syrran , the symbol represented Surak's enlightenment atop Mount Seleya . ( ENT : " The Forge ")

After the reunification of the Vulcans and Romulans , the IDIC was combined with the Romulan logo. This new symbol was worn as a badge on the clothing of the President of Ni'Var , the Peers , and other top officials in Ni'Var society in the 32nd century . ( DIS : " Unification III ")

As a Philosophy [ ]

In 2269 , James T. Kirk reminded a giant clone of Spock of the concept, asking him whether an army of Spocks could defy this concept by attempting to impose peace and Phylosian philosophy on others. ( TAS : " The Infinite Vulcan ")

As an Emblem [ ]

In the 23rd century , the flag of the Vulcan people was an IDIC over a red background. ( DIS : " Will You Take My Hand? ")

When referring to the symbol in the English language , it was pronounced " ih-dihk ". ( TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ")

Vulcan stones with the symbol

The IDIC was featured several times at the Vulcan monastery at P'Jem . It appeared on the wooden arch at the doorway of the monastery and was visible on stones which were used by Jonathan Archer for creating a map of the catacombs . The IDIC symbol was also imprinted on the Stone of J'Kah . ( ENT : " The Andorian Incident ")

Gaby 's drawing " Vulcan " featured a green - skinned Vulcan wearing an IDIC pin. ( ENT : " Breaking the Ice ")

In 2154 , T'Les smuggled a holographic map to her daughter T'Pol inside an IDIC medallion pendant . ( ENT : " The Forge ") On 22 January 2155 , T'Pol hung the same medallion on the side of an incubator containing her baby daughter, Elizabeth . Following the child 's death , T'Pol was holding the medallion close to her in her quarters when the baby's father , Charles Tucker III , arrived. Moments later, they held hands over the medallion. ( ENT : " Terra Prime ")

Michael Burnham and other graduates of the Vulcan Science Academy each wore an IDIC badge on their graduation day on Vulcan . ( DIS : " Lethe ")

Spock's IDIC pin

On formal occasions, Spock wore his IDIC medallion in pin form as part of his Starfleet dress uniform . During a dinner function aboard the USS Enterprise , Doctor Miranda Jones had noticed Spock's Vulcan IDIC pin on his dress uniform. She inquired if it was to serve as a reminder to Jones that, as a Vulcan, Spock could mind link with the Medusans far better than she could. Spock noted, on the contrary, that he donned it to honor Dr. Jones and her achievements. ( TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ")

In 2285 , as captain of the Enterprise , Spock had a large IDIC mosaic on a wall in his quarters, next to his meditation nook. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

The Vulcan ship T'Vran had IDIC emblems on the back wall of the bridge . ( DS9 : " Vortex ")

Solok sporting Logicians teamwear

Vulcan IDIC pins were considered collectible merchandise in the retail markets of the 24th century , not easily acquired in the Bajor sector . In late 2370 , Quark listed Vulcan IDIC pins as plausible items that he could sell over the monitors on board of Deep Space 9 if given permission by Commander Benjamin Sisko . As well as IDIC pins, other collectibles Quark listed that he could sell at a significant discount included Andorian jewelry and Bolian crystalsteel . ( DS9 : " The Jem'Hadar ")

The Logicians , an all-Vulcan baseball team formed from members of the crew of the USS T'Kumbra , featured the IDIC on their baseball caps. ( DS9 : " Take Me Out to the Holosuite ")

While posing as a Vulcan commodore , Oh kept a decorative box with an IDIC on her desk among other Vulcan decorations. ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ")

In preparing a room for the T'Kal-in-ket aboard the USS Discovery , the crew had placed the IDIC symbol on one of the walls , along with other symbols, which represented the three major factions on Ni'Var . ( DIS : " Unification III ")

Appendices [ ]

References [ ].

• TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? "
• TNG : " Unification II "
• " For the Cause "
• " Take Me Out to the Holosuite "
• " Flashback "
• " Hunters "
• " Riddles "
• " Endgame "
• " The Andorian Incident "
• " Breaking the Ice "
• " The Seventh "
• " Future Tense "
• " The Forge "
• " Kir'Shara "
• " Awakening "
• " Terra Prime "
• " The Vulcan Hello "
• " Battle at the Binary Stars "
• " Will You Take My Hand? "
• " Unification III "
• PIC : " Maps and Legends "
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Background information [ ]

The invention of the IDIC by Gene Roddenberry caused friction between him and Leonard Nimoy , who saw it as a cheap ploy to sell replica merchandise to fans. ( I Am Spock , 1st ed., pp. 66-67) The symbol, first introduced in " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ", was designed by William Ware Theiss . [1] Michael and Denise Okuda have credited Roddenberry himself with designing the symbol, though Theiss' design sketches as published in Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook and The Art of Star Trek seem to contradict this. ( ENT : " The Forge " text commentary ; ENT Season 4 DVD special feature; Star Trek Encyclopedia  (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 357))

In the IDIC seen from the 4th century, the triangle portion is perfectly vertical and elongated, in contrast to the angle it is displayed at in the 22nd century forward.

The Jellyfish cockpit

In the Vulcan Jellyfish ship from Star Trek , the cockpit appears to form an IDIC with the chair, the controls, and the circular window. The IDIC as a design motif is continued in the Star Trek video game, where it forms the shape of every Vulcan airlock .

A wall decoration displayed in the Vulcan High Command in " Awakening " and " Kir'Shara " was sold on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. The image, resembling a vertical IDIC, had the auction description "the panels form an image of the sun rising over Mount Seleya ". [2]

The Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 357) stated the IDIC emblem had come to be used as a Vulcan national symbol.

External links [ ]

• IDIC at Wikipedia
• IDIC at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Don't Know Much About (Vulcan) Philosophy at Star Trek Fact Check
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

IDIC: I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

Sue  •  july 13, 2017.

You’ve probably noticed it – the disturbing trend of people defending their bigotry or prejudice by twisting the meaning of diversity. “If you love diversity so much, you shouldn’t make me conform to your opinion!” or “You say you want diversity but you want everyone to agree with you!” or “My opinion is one of many, and it’s part of diversity!” The people who use this argument want us to tolerate intolerance.

Unfortunately, this argument rears its ugly head not only in places you’d expect it (like political debates or on a friend’s wall), but in comments sections and Facebook threads and twitter discussions about pop culture. And, particularly in the Star Trek fandom, there is a specific piece of lore that gets twisted into a weapon: the IDIC.

Too often, I have seen someone make a racist, misogynist, ableist, or otherwise bigoted comment, get called out, and the post something like, “What happened to IDIC? If you believe in IDIC, then it has to include my opinion.”

Oh, but how they have missed the point.

“We’ve each learned to be delighted with what we are. The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did.” “It is basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir. The combination of a number of things to make existence worthwhile.” – Kirk and Spock, “The Savage Curtain”

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. The basis of Vulcan philosophy. “It represents a Vulcan belief (also Roddenberry’s belief) that beauty, growth, progress — all result from the union of the unlike.” And the symbol, a triangle intersecting a circle, with a stone in the center, represents this with unlike shapes – one smooth and one angular – combining together with a gemstone in the middle, “as the union of words and music creates song, or the union of marriage creates children. The circle can represent infinity, nature, woman, etc; the triangle can represent the finite, art, man, etc.” ( Inside Star Trek 1 )

Though the statements from 1968 are unsurprisingly heteronormative, the idea is incredibly clear, optimistic, and inclusive. Over the years, this concept has come to mean so much to me that I had the symbol permanently inked into my skin.

In the same piece from Inside Star Trek (okay, it’s an ad for a replica IDIC pendant, but still), it’s noted at Gene Roddenberry himself said it’s “an ideal based on learning to delight in our essential differences as well as learning to recognize our similarities.” It seems so obvious to me: Hatred, bigotry, and discrimination of any kind – the concept that a person’s differences make them “lesser” – has no place in Star Trek , let alone IDIC.

“But it’s infinite! It has to include my opinion.”

Once again, no. Because that’s not what “infinite” means. The word gets tossed around a lot, especially in Trek fandom, and many people seem to think that “infinite diversity” means “every possible ideology or opinion” when what it really means is “an unending amount of diversity.”

I’m going to prove my point with some basic number theory, and I’d like to think that our logical Vulcan friends would appreciate that. (Don’t worry – it won’t hurt.)

How many positive, whole numbers are there? If you start counting with 1, 2, 3… will you ever run out of numbers? No! There are infinitely many positive, whole numbers. The fact that -1 or 1.5 are numbers, but aren’t included in the list of positive, whole numbers does not make that list any less infinite. Additionally, there infinitely many negative numbers, infinitely many rational numbers, infinitely many irrational numbers… there are even infinitely many numbers between each set of consecutive whole numbers. It’s like that thought experiment where you always move half the distance between you and your goal. Because you can always divide by half, an infinite number of times, you’ll never really get there.  (It’s called Zeno’s Dichotomy Paradox , FYI.)  And that’s just numbers!

“Infinite” does not mean “all inclusive” and “infinite diversity” does not include bigotry.

If you try to insist that it does, you’ll never really get there either.

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  18 comments for “ idic: i do not think it means what you think it means ”.

I really don’t understand our desire to try to control others because they live differently than us or the masses. I say live and let live and everyone deserves no they should demand the same rights as the rest of the masses share and they deserve happiness as much as the next person.

Bigotry is Anti-diversity. As such it stands outside of and in opposition to diversity. It is not part of diversity, it is the antithesis of diversity.

Star Trek isn’t for bigots. It isn’t for misogynists. It isn’t for homophobes. It isn’t for xenophobes. Anyone who tries to twist IDIC around to allow those ignorant beliefs simply doesn’t understand IDIC.

Vulcans who follow the IDIC philosophy still OFTEN actively disagree with other beings they encounter. Usually this is vocal disagreement, but regularly if that does not resolve an important issue they are willing to escalate matters to direct action against those who they disagree with. In some cases we see examples of that direct action to be physical violence (whether in hand to hand or ship to ship combat). IDIC does not mean fully accepting those who wish to do harm to you or those with whom you have allied. IDIC is an openness to assessing and accepting other points of view rather than the belief that your perspective is absolute. Also, for real, it’s a tv show. As much as I adore Star Trek, sometimes the real world (and actually even the ST universe) is more complicated than following simple maxims.

When people twist the words of the Bible and the constitution and the meaning of truth; are you surprised that Star Trek lore gets twisted? IDIC simple prepares one to accept that there are infinite possibilities, it doesn’t mean all are acceptable. IDIC is not a stand alone principle and needs other guiding principles to attain enlightenment. Needs of the many vs the few etc.

Great article, Sue!

I just discovered this podcast. I agree with your analysis. I don’t believe anyone except opportunistic bigots believe that diversity justifies bigotry.

It’s infinite variety of species, cultures, spiritual beliefs, races, genders, etc.

Bigotry is not diversity, it’s a frantic paranoid attempt to throw closed and bolt the door of diversity, to send us back to an imagined world where only white people existed and everyone was heteronormative and patriarchal.

All of that is antithetical IDIC, and to the Trek universe.

Glad this podcast exists and I find it, “fascinating”.

I happen to agree with this interpretation and I think the “numbers” example illustrates it beautifully. And like Alexandre Malhado, I do care about IDIC translated in the same manner as the author. m mattell suggests “good” and “bad” combinations of all the food in your kitchen and I agree that there are good philosophies and philosophies that I might not agree with. However, no matter how bad a combination of food might be it’s not poisonous and it’s not going to kill me. Hatred, in all its forms, is NOT a philosophy. It is poison.

Infinite diversity. Infinite combinations. You will get things “good” that you agree with. You will get “bad,” things you don’t agree with. Take all the food in your kitchen. There are a lot of combinations. Some work well and taste good. Others don’t work. We pick and choose what we are but choosing our personal “combinations” using diverse input.

I have no choice but to agree with MD as far as IDIC including *everything*. However, being a mere imperfect human, *I* just can’t include everything in my personal philosophy. I’m having a hard enough time wrestling with hatred, as it is, when I ignore trump worshipers and the average far right republican. If I were to incorporate them into my belief system, I’d probably provide proof of human spontaneous combustion. I wasn’t even aware that I could hate so much and so completely. I find it utterly appalling! It’s very distressing. I used to include everything in my personal philosophy…and I was real good at it…for decades. But now I feel like I, my family, my friends (both here and abroad) are under attack. To just sit there, smile,and mutter IDIC to myself feels like sitting there like a lamb waiting for slaughter. I have no choice but to exclude them.

But, MD is right…and I know it. I’m just not strong enough to follow my (nearly) lifelong belief system as strictly as I used to. It’s not the first time that I honestly wished I was Vulcan.

I’m going to disagree. I enjoyed the article, but then I did some reading on what IDIC really means in Star Trek’s mythology. In order to accept IDIC, you only have to realize, “the vast array of variables in the universe.”, which is everything is everything. IDIC doesn’t tell you how to live your life. If you take it and apply it to smaller parts of the universe rather than the whole, for instance just apply it to living things or society, then you might have soemthing like, “The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity.” and “And the ways our differences combine to create meaning and beauty.” It’s like polarity. You don’t have good without evil or the balance of all things without each extreme. The author wants to deny other people’s ideas, opinions, or points of view in favor of her own, which wouldn’t exist without varying points of view. So no, you have to include everything. It’s not a philosophy, it’s a fact that is the basis for certain Vulcan philosophies.

The IDIC may not appear often, but it’s idea is a guideline to all Star Trek defends. Diversity is a concept present in almost everything, there. I liked the “do we really care” reflection and I think we must ask if we, as individuals and not as fans, care for it. I do, and a lot, and that question reminded me that. Excelent article.

I always wondered how bigots could claim to love Trek when they don’t seem to like its IDIC principle. Sue, you have answered my question with this. I never saw anyone use IDIC to justify racism/sexism/homophobia before but I’m not on Twitter.

I agree with Sue’s interpretation, but I also offer one other option: Do we even care about IDIC?

On the one hand, this specific principle was only ever promoted by Spock in one or two episodes. A few other Vulcans wore them, but the majority of Vulcans are never seen to. And the rest of the Federation (and the various series and movies) don’t seem to care about IDIC at all. It’s barely a part of Trek canon. I think Slug-o-Cola may have been explained to the audience in more detail than IDIC, and the jamaharon symbol/principle is actively used in more episodes than IDIC, and yet somehow neither of those are presumed to be representative of everything Star Trek stands for. So it makes little sense to pretend that IDIC on its own should neatly encapsulate the entire series.

And on the other hand, who even cares if IDIC is supposed to represent what Roddenberry and all other cast and crew had in mind for us… it’s a TV show, not a religion. We’re not bound to the dogma as laid down by St. Spock. We won’t get excommunicated for rejecting parts of the show we don’t like.

I’m very pleased with how Star Trek (especially the three main ’90s series) contributed to my sense of ethics and justice, but I’m also not so limited that I stopped learning anything after that. I am capable of assessing situations beyond the strict letter of IDIC or the Prime Directive or any of a hundred Picard speeches (or the Rules of Acquisition, even!). These fictional ideas can make great frameworks to start developing something suitable for the real world, but they do always still refer to fictional worlds and the needs of a fictional story. Only very badly misguided fans will try to stick to them perfectly rigidly.

Ironically, the biggest advocate of IDIC was Phlox. He preached this to T’Pol in The Andorian Incident. It might have taken her a long time but she eventually got it. Syrran didn’t directly promote it but he did wax poetic by saying that the word IDIC is but a shadow of it’s true meaning. It might not be mentioned as much as fans think but to say IDIC is barely part of canon is ridiculous.

I do agree with your point about St Spock though. It’s also the reason people see “continuity issues” with ENT Vulcans.

I think its worth recognizing that there are a lot of canonical events in the original continuity (pre-reboot) that happened offscreen, in the various novels (D.C. Fontana et.al) and other media. IDIC as a philosophical motto is discussed periodically in nearly all of them when dealing with the Vulcan culture in any significant measure.

On screen, it also appears in Vulcan crew quarters and civilian kit, (mostly post-TOS series)

The recent surge of Trump v CNN memes, have started to include TOS clips. This really irks me something fierce. Seeing as Starfleet and Star Trek in general represents everything Trump hates. Socialism, abandoning capitalism, strong women, celebrating our differences and working together towards a common goal, the list goes on. Yet the TOS/CNN meme, casts Trump as Kirk.

A better casting, in my view, would be Daemon Bok. The Ferengi captain who exacts petty revenge upon Picard, for killing his son.

Trump is much more like a Ferengi anyway. Über capitalist, opresses women, thinks every other culture is inferior, (butt ugly) etc. Daemon Bok, in particular though, as he does things even his own people think is a bit too much. Like exacting petty revenge on Picard (Obama) instead of focussing on profit.

Sorry for the rambling.

P.s I love the podcast, keep up the good work!

Hmmmm, I get your gist, but “Petty” (Revenge) vs. “Killing…son”. Perhaps those two don’t sit well together. While I am not a parent who would say that any thing my son/dautghter does, I must defend. The loss of one would not be a petty event.

Comments are closed.

IDIC (glossary term)

IDIC is a canonical term from Star Trek: The Original Series and stands for "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations." In Star Trek canon, IDIC is a Vulcan philosophy and also a prestigious Vulcan award of merit.

The Philosophy

The phrase in Vulcan is Kol-Ut-Shan. [1]

"The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity." "And the ways our differences combine to create meaning and beauty." -- Miranda and Spock, "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" ( Star Trek: The Original Series ) "We've each learned to be delighted with what we are. The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did." "It is basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir. The combination of a number of things to make existence worthwhile." -- Kirk and Spock, "The Savage Curtain" ( Star Trek: The Original Series ) In my time, we knew not of Earthmen. I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us. -- 'Surak', "The Savage Curtain" ( Star Trek: The Original Series ) [2]

Gene Roddenberry originated the IDIC philosophy as a Vulcan belief:

"Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations represents a Vulcan belief that beauty, growth, progress -- all result from the union of the unlike. Concord, as much as discord, requires the presence of at least two different notes. The brotherhood of man is an ideal based on learning to delight in our essential differences, as well as learning to recognize our similarities. The circle and triangle combine to produce the gemstone in the center as the union of words and music creates song, or the union of marriage creates children. [3]

Gene Roddenberry Jr. says the entire show was:

...based on the idea of IDIC, which was one of the backbones of the original series. It’s the philosophy that’s always really kind of resonated with me. I did not grow up watching Star Trek . I liked Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard . It wasn’t until later in life, through the fans, that I got a different perspective of what Star Trek was, and then I went back and I’d start to get it. We all know the term “IDIC,” which means “infinite diversity in infinite combinations.” It’s the idea that it’s universal acceptance. [4]

Gene Jr. also goes into detail on this in his documentary film Trek Nation , with input from fans on the importance of his father's message of universal acceptance.

Star Trek fandom quickly adopted the IDIC philosophy and internalized it to the point where it has become a cornerstone of real world fannish interactions. [5] "IDIC" is often used in fandom as shorthand for "To each her own," or to indicate respect for fans with different preferences -- primarily, the debate over Slash (see Slash Controversies ), explicit, X-rated fanfiction of any type, and kink in the sense of depictions of unconventional sexual practices. [6]

Because for all that Trek was supposedly about New Worlds and New Civilization, when it was at its best it was always about understanding youself by seeing yourself through new eyes. IDIC isn't about notching some kind of cosmic bedpost, it's about the way that listening to a thousand different viewpoints is still not enough to tell the whole story - but that doesn't mean you stop asking. [7]

However, some fans are turned off by the Doylist revelation that the introduction of the IDIC symbol was pushed into the show by Gene Roddenberry, as a commercial for IDIC merchandise. [8] The practice of offering a premium within a program (for kids or adults) is as old as radio . Roddenberry may have been thinking of this practice when he thought of putting the IDIC on the show, rather than merely offering it to fans through mail order. [9]

Responding to a question on Quora , "IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) is, essentially, a recipe for pure chaos. However Vulcans are all but defined by their adherence and respect for logic. How are these two fundamental principles not completely at odds with each other?", Josh Engel wrote the following.

Written 20 Mar 2014 Well, given that the entire thing is mostly a way to sell merchandise, I don't really give it a whole lot of thought. Look at the shots of the IDIC; imagine them with QVC text over them. That's exactly what was going on. As philosophy, there's just nothing there. Supposedly, Roddenberry half-assed something out there, but if it ever existed it hasn't been preserved. So, we can make something up. It's notable that this isn't too long after Chomsky made a major realization out of the fact that we can make an infinite number of novel sentences through combinatorics. This was a major shift in the way we thought about language, since it overthrew a behaviorist model in which every sentence you spoke was primarily based on sentences you had heard before. It wasn't a very good idea in the first place, and Chomsky's new model is the foundation of modern linguistics. That jibes with what little we get describing it: Dr. Jones: The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity. Mr. Spock: And the ways our differences combine, to create meaning and beauty. Yeah, it also combines to create infinite suck, and there's no moral philosophy implied. It's just a reminder of the way the interest in life is in its combinations rather than just a bunch of arbitrary stuff. Pretty thin philosophy for a money grab. [10]

And from Josh Marsfelder's Vaka Rangi , anthropological/sociological Star Trek rewatch:

It is also worth briefly talking about the IDIC. An acronym standing for “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations”, though that actually won't be made official until the Animated Series, it's become an iconic symbol of both the Vulcans and Star Trek to the point some Trekkers have adopted it as a life philosophy. Literally the only reason the IDIC exists at all, let alone becomes a prominent part of this episode, was because Gene Roddenberry figured he could turn Spock's pendant into a lucrative collectible piece of merchandise. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, along with other members of the cast and crew who I can't find by name, were absolutely livid at Roddenberry's hubris and crass commercialism they actually protested it, him and the episode to the point he had to be called to the set to negotiate a settlement before shooting could continue (and I'd like to point out that as much of a reputation as Shatner and Nimoy have for being prima donnas, it seems to me every time they've put their foot down, at least so far, they've been pretty squarely in the right). But there you have it: Just another friendly reminder about what Soda Pop Art [11] ultimately is if you take it at face value and only consider it worthy for its extant media artefacts. [12]

The Physical Symbol: Origins, and Intensive Promotions

Perhaps the earliest mention of the physical IDIC was on March 2, 1967 when a fan, Elyse S. Pines reported talking to Nimoy on the phone during a promotion for Dot Records in New York. During that phone call, she said: "We asked him what the emblem Spock wears was and he replied, "Well, it's sort of a boomerang-shaped thing." [13]

Fans heard of the IDIC more widely during the the summer of 1968 via a "Vulcan Pendent" [sic] announcement, probably written by Roddenberry himself and published in the first issue of Inside Star Trek (July 1968, pp. 15–16). It describes "ardent rock hound and amateur lapidary" Roddenberry as having come up with the Vulcan philosophy after he presented Leonard Nimoy with a unique "hand-crafted piece of jewelry," a "pendent" [sic] of polished yellow gold (circle) and florentined white gold (triangle), with a stone of brilliant white fabulite — an artificial gem "developed by the laser industry and used in space mechanisms for its optical qualities," and thus well-suited as a gift for an actor in a science fiction show. Readers were encouraged to submit their interest in such a product to the Star Trek Enterprises mail order firm. It was noted that "less expensive materials" would keep costs down.

The IDIC was first offered for sale in May 1969, first as a special announcement sent out to fans and then on page 4 of Inside Star Trek .

The Vulcan IDIC pendant was designed by Gene Roddenberry as a marketing premium long before the third season. As early as the end of the first season, fans of the show had begun writing in asking for copies of the scripts, film clip frames, etc., and these were soon sold through Roddenberry's "Star Trek Enterprises", run at that time by Bjo and John Trimble before Roddenberry renamed it Lincoln Enterprises and turned it over to Majel Barrett . As evidenced in some of his letters and memos, Roddenberry was fond of circle-and-triangle designs and had wanted to use them for purposes of theatrical unity as early as the first season's "The Return of the Archons".

Roddenberry himself wore an IDIC pendant to at least one con, something that fanned the interest and promoted its sale. From a fan in August 1968 who was at FunCon :

Gene Roddenberry attended part of the con, wearing a piece of Vulcan jewelry called an idic. (He had made the idic himself, and it will be worn by Spock in one of the shows. It may also be available from STE later on if interest is shown.) [14]

From a zine editor's encouragement to subscribe to " Inside Star Trek ": This, fans, is it--the official newsletter ST. Contents of #1 include [snipped] news of all the ST stars; and information on that Vulcan idic. What are you waiting for? Energize!" [15]

The appeal of a pendant or medallion with a Vulcan theme for young viewers in the 1960s cannot be overstated. There was already a demonstrable fan craving for any souvenir of the show, and this was the first item to be specifically manufactured for the fans. Medallions on long chains were extremely stylish in 1968, many featuring Gerald Holtom's familiar peace symbol . The IDIC was instantly and enthusiastically embraced as a "Vulcan peace symbol". Along with the Vulcan hand salute and the phrases Peace and long life / Live long and prosper , IDIC was a recognizable code symbol for the growing subculture of Star Trek fandom.

In some ways, there is no better symbol of a Star Trek tribute to the late 1960s than the IDIC. Along with Woodstock , ( the Beatles ' album) Abbey Road and the [Apollo 11] moonwalk the stated IDIC philosophy typified the gentler side of 1969. [16]

It was a masterpiece of timeliness and astute marketing instinct on the part of Roddenberry. Star Trek was first developed in 1964 and came to fruition in 1966, almost exactly coinciding with the hippie/counterculture movement with its 'peace' hand salute and identifying phrases like " do your own thing ", " make love, not war ", being " on the bus ", and " turn on, tune in, drop out ". [17] [18]

According to the blog Star Trek Fact Check , "Roddenberry first tried to include the IDIC at the end of 'Spock's Brain"... In a July 10, 1968 memo to Fred Freiberger, Roddenberry outlined his idea for a scene with the IDIC. Perhaps emphasizing the importance the jewelry had to Roddenberry, the memo was titled 'Spock's Medallion.'

"This proposed epilogue began with Uhura presenting Spock with 'a boxed item from the junior officers of the vessel, which they have had made up to show their delight that Spock has been brought back to life.' Inside the box, of course, is the IDIC medallion, which Roddenberry says 'has great meaning to all Vulcans' and is 'like the cross' to Christians and similar symbols to other religions and creeds. ... Freiberger elected to ignore Roddenberry's story suggestion, likely because it was too late to implement in the episode." [19]

Roddenberry was successful in inserting the IDIC into the episode "Is There In Truth No Beauty?". According to William Shatner in Star Trek Memories , the book about TOS he dictated to Chris Kreski [20] Roddenberry sent down several pages of new script for the dinner scene, in which Spock was to give a long-winded explanation of the philosophy. The actors all knew IDIC was a mere advertising toy. Worse, Leonard Nimoy found the dialogue "deadly dull and almost completely pointless... we were both just babbling at each other." The episode's director, Ralph Senensky, said that Leonard Nimoy first phoned producer Fred Freiberger about the IDIC debacle; Freiberger wouldn't do anything, so Leonard called Roddenberry. [21] Nimoy confirms this in Star Trek Memories and adds: "Overnight, the irrelevant scene had been replaced with a far more irrelevant scene. The dialogue now consisted of Diana Muldaur asking me something like, 'What's that medallion you’re wearing, Spock?,' and I explain that it's an IDIC and then I proceed to spend the next page-and-a-half explaining exactly what this IDIC is and why it's so great."

While Senensky remembered Roddenberry "vehemently denied these accusations" that the IDIC was a premium, [21] Shat said in his book that Roddenberry was honest about that. [20] However, the actors refused to film the scene until Roddenberry cut out the lengthy exposition. [22]

In I Am Spock , Leonard Nimoy remembered objecting to the ethics of a product insertion. While he liked the IDIC philosophy, he didn't appreciate Spock being used as a "billboard" and "the whole incident was rather unpleasant; Roddenberry was peeved at me for not wanting to help his piece of mail-order merchandise get off to a resounding start, and Fred Freiberger was peeved at me for going over his head." [23] [19]

Roddenberry agreed to rewrite the scene, but explained -- again showing he had confused tie-in merchandise with in-show premiums:

The inclusion of the IDIC in that script was valid. I truly believe in the statement -- in the message behind it -- Infinite Diversity, Infinite Combinations. Why wouldn't I want that in the show? In that episode, in particular, because of the woman character having studied on Vulcan. And then taking that philosophy and making it available to the fans was something I wanted to do. Imagine the power of that -- kids wearing that and explaining to their parents and their peers what it meant. To be able to get those kind of ideas across to people who might not have ever seen the show was worth doing. Look, tie-in merchandising is part of the business of television. We had it from the start of Star Trek, with toys and comic books, and the ship model, and the record albums. Leonard didn't see how making those records was a form of exploitation, but he felt that marketing the IDIC was. He missed the point. If we were going to sell anything, it should be something with a positive message and philosophy behind it. [24]

Steve Smyth has this to say about its manufacture:

As Joshua Engel writes here, IDIC (infinite diversity in infinite cash), was purely a money grab, however, it came back to bite Gene in the ass. He never had the pin design copyrighted, I think for fear of a legal dispute with Paramount. Remember, Paramount didn't want to pay any of the principle cast for their likenesses. The only way Leonard agreed to do Star Trek: The Motion Picture was for Paramount to pay him likeness royalties, and the only reason they did that was to get Robert Wise to direct the movie. No Nimoy, no Wise... or something like that. Since Gene never had the design registered, shortly after this episode aired, knock off IDIC pins showed up at SF conventions around the country, selling for higher prices than the Lincoln Enterprises "official" version. Since the knockoffs were handmade, they commanded $20 or more. The official one was $7.50. Not bad, but the knockoffs tended to be more robust. I had friends with LE pins where the plating had rubbed off, or the "white gemstone" had fallen out, or the triangle had detached due to a bad soldering job. I think what distinguished the knockoffs from the original ones was that the knockoffs tended to be cast from one piece of metal, and the settings were from better suppliers. I saw a really nice one at a con made from a solid sterling silver Triangle, solid 22k gold circle, and zirconium for the gem, in a pro setting. 75 bucks back in the day, but worth it if you were into it. This is probably the reason Paramount's never made a fine collector's edition IDIC, because you can get IDIC earrings and pins at cons and terrible to great ones on ebay every day of the week and twice on Sunday. [25]

50th anniversary official replicas with 18k gold circles and rhodium-plated triangles were designed by the Fleet Workshop in 2015 and made available in 2016. The designers discuss their research and craft process in considerable depth:

The design intentionally incorporates disparate colors, materials, and textures (smooth brass in a curvilinear shape, rough silver-tone metal in a rectilinear shape). Here is some deleted dialog from the script that makes this clear: SPOCK: The triangle and the circle... ... different shapes, materials, textures...represent any two diverse things which come together to create here...truth or beauty. (indicating the parts, looks up) For example, Doctor Miranda Jones who combined herself and the disciplines of my race, to become greater than the sum of both. [26]

These are selling at the Roddenberry Shop for $200 and fetch as much as $350 on eBay. "This recreation, painstakingly handmade by a traditional jewelry atelier in New England, is the result of a collaboration between Roddenberry Entertainment and a community of Star Trek prop replica enthusiasts, who worked together to ensure that this is the most faithful replica ever produced. Access to original dress uniform braiding and Bill Theiss insignia patterns was obtained and used in concert with sophisticated digital modeling software to ensure that the sizing and shape contours were a perfect recreation of the original. Evoking Star Trek's simultaneous long history and vision towards the future, futuristic fabrication methods such as high-resolution 3D printing and laser micro-welding were combined with ages-old traditional hand florentine finishing techniques to yield a model with the correct contours and texture."

Fan Uses of IDIC

Star Trek fans were immediately attracted to the IDIC and Lincoln Enterprises was soon flooded with orders. The symbol was subsequently offered as pendants in three sizes and as earrings, pins and patches. The largest pendant went for $7.50 (close to $60 in 2020). Apparently Roddenberry failed to trademark the symbol for the reasons Smyth speculated, or he wanted to leave it free for public use like Gerald Holtom's original peace symbol.

Today, the IDIC symbol is printed on t-shirts and hats, and has even turned up on scrabble tiles for use by crafters. Numerous fan associations - for example Star Trek Action Group (STAG) - use the symbol in logos, newsletter banners and flyers .

Many fannish institutions have taken their name from IDIC or related subjects. IDICon , a K/S con was held in Houston throughout the mid-'80s. The Surak Awards were named after Surak, founder of the Vulcan IDIC philosophy.

There have been several Star Trek zines and newsletters called IDIC , and others with IDIC themes, such as the United Federation of Planets Journal , which has the subtitle, "Dedicated to the Universal Understanding of I.D.I.C."

In 2009, Vividcon 's Challenge show had IDIC as its prompt .

The Philosophy as Fans Saw It

IDIC was invoked frequently in the debates concerning Slash Controversies in the mid- to late 1970s. The pages of the letterzine Interstat became the home of much of this lively debate. Fans who objected to depictions of their beloved heroes in homosexual relationships, for whatever reason, were reminded that the universe has room for all and that diversities are required for health and growth. Those who felt that homosexuality itself was immoral often received an education on the gay rights movement, then in full swing. Although there were times when people seemed to use "IDIC" as short for "don't like, don't read", on the whole the discussions were intelligent and thoughtful.

• In a 1985 issue of Interstat , a fan responds to a new subscriber's complaint about fans arguing with each other: "Those who bellow 'IDIC!' loudest in public are often those who displaythe crudest understanding of the concept...IDIC...is not a delicate, hothouse, faraway philosophical idea. It's a tough, adaptable, demanding, way of living one's life. IDIC, when confined to a television or movie screen or to the printed page, is a very pretty thing. IDIC in everyday life isn't quite so attractive; it's often aggravating as hell and ugly as sin... [reading Interstat, I] began to realize that what I was witnessing—the blood feuds, the elite alliances, the extravagant praise and vitriolic condemnations—was IDIC in action. Within the pages of Interstat...within ST fandom itself...IDIC works. Oh it creaks and groans and more often than not seems past the point of total disintegration...but it does, somehow, hold together."

Not everyone had this kind of optimism regarding the inclusion of things like "blood feuds" and flamewars in the general IDIC philosophy. On the Women at Warp podcast website, contributor Sue calls IDIC "a specific piece of lore that gets twisted into a weapon... Too often, I have seen someone make a racist, misogynist, ableist, or otherwise bigoted comment, get called out, and then post something like, 'What happened to IDIC? If you believe in IDIC, then it has to include my opinion.'" She reminds readers that the "infinite" refers to an infinity of diversities , not "every possible ideology or opinion." [27]

Meta/Further Reading

• Philosophy of the IDIC by David Henry (printed in Phoenix #1) (1975)
• IDIC , a 1984 essay
• ^ IDIC on Memory Alpha , the Star Trek wiki
• ^ Cheap Thoughts: Variety, the Spice of Life
• ^ Inside Star Trek 1, p. 15. This original announcement with its brief philosophy has been reproduced all over the internet .
• ^ Edward Gross & Mark Altman, The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek, Volume 1 . St. Martin's Press 2016.
• ^ Star trek and sacred ground by Jennifer E. Porter and Darcee L. McLaren.
• ^ For example, bradygirl_12, Recs, The Nature Of BDSM, D/s, and Other Things , Archived version I understand I'm probably in the minority with this opinion but that's fine. I am happy to honor IDIC. :) Posted Jan 3, 2010. Last accessed October 25, 2010.
• ^ melannen, In which I cannily pretend to talk about Star Trek, but am actually talking about fanfic instead. Posted May 4, 2007. Last accessed October 25, 2010.
• ^ kindkit , TOS reviews I sort of enjoyed the discussion of the IDIC symbol (yay Kirk for coming to Spock's defense) but knowing that it was just a marketing ploy by Gene Roddenberry rather palls my enthusiasm. Posted July 10, 2009. Last accessed October 25, 2010.
• ^ He stopped just short of having a special announcement at the end of the show offering IDIC to viewers for three Geritol labels and a dime. In fact, it's clear that he didn't understand the difference between tie-in merchandise (like the Enterprise models, comic books and toys) and premiums displayed in-show. For some background and examples of radio premiums, see Jim Harmon, The Great Radio Heroes (MacFarland, 2001), and the website Old-Time Radio Premiums .
• ^ Josh Engel, responding to a question by Craig Weiland on Quora , " How is IDIC not completely antithetical to logic? ", March 20, 2014.
• ^ "My years of studying Western culture have lead me to theorize that art mass-produced on an industrial scale and disseminated via a uniquely hybrid capitalist media seems to serve the same purpose in societies influenced by the European tradition as myths, legends and oral history do in non-Western societies. If 'Pop Art' is art that incorporates elements of consumerist capitalism to make a subversive point, than 'Soda Pop Art' must be the inverse -- Art created on a grand scale and delivered from the top down. But not, it must be said, impossible of being subversive and worthwhile, even if sometimes this happens in spite of itself." Josh Marsfelder, " We Got Some Work To Do Now " from his blog Soda Pop Art, July 9, 2012.
• ^ Josh Marsfelder, " 'The Beast Within': Is There In Truth No Beauty? " Vaka Rangi , October 15, 2013.
• ^ as reported in "Meeting Leonard Nimoy" in the Winter 1967 issue of LNNAF Journal
• ^ from Plak-Tow #9
• ^ from Plak-Tow #9 (August 1968)
• ^ The Vault of Retro Sci-Fi , post dated April 16, 2016.
• ^ Kirk Jusko, Strange New World Just Ahead, or: How to Make a Vulcan Feel at Home (Part 2 of 15): The Evolution of Gene Roddenberry . Shadow of a Doubt blog post dated July 15, 2015, puts Star Trek and Roddenberry in the context of the 1960s' Sexual Revolution, the anti-Vietnam/anti-war movement, and the popularity of psychedelic drugs. All of his "Strange New World Just Ahead" posts are worth reading for their contextualization of Star Trek within not just a 1960s framework but American culture in general.
• ^ What we think of as "hippie" things were a combination of art and political-philosophical movements ca. 1963-1967. Originating with the Beats, they included the Diggers , the Artists Liberation Front , various craft entrepreneurships, Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters and Timothy Leary's League for Spiritual Discovery , and perhaps most important, innovations and experiments in popular music (most notably by The Beatles ) and film. In 1967, lured by two years of media hype about an ecstatic utopia of free sex, drugs and psychedelic music, thousands of young people flocked to the Haight-Ashbury and other districts where this was taking place. These seeking people were the ones the media referred to as "hippies". Most of them didn't realize that this was a small cultural experiment, still very much under construction, and while some of them came to understand and joined in to help, the influx of seekers essentially destroyed it. The "Summer of Love" was actually the end of the "hippie movement" on a wide scale. The movement did not die but diffused into a number of channels including commune experiments and the back to the land movement, natural/organic food, quantum mechanics research, psychedelic and progressive rock (some of which, combined with classical, jazz and indigenous/tribal music into New Age/space music ) and the development of personal computers/internet. Use of LSD to gain insight and self-understanding , as well as for recreational purposes, began in the 1950s . New clinical LSD experiments started in 2009. Many people now take tiny amounts of LSD and psilocybin to enhance mood and creativity without "tripping".
• ^ a b " Don't Know Much About Vulcan Philosophy " in Star Trek Fact Check , August 23, 2013.
• ^ a b William Shatner and Chris Kreski, Star Trek Memories (Harper, 1993), pp. 287-289.
• ^ a b Ralph Senensky, " Is There In Truth No Beauty?: Filmed July 1968 ", in Ralph's Cinema Trek blog, probably written in March 2011.
• ^ Senensky confirmed this in an interview with Edward Gross for Starlog 172 in November 1991, quoted in Marc Cushman, These Are The Voyages: TOS -- Season 3 (Jacobs Brown Press, 2015).
• ^ Leonard Nimoy, I Am Spock (1995), p.123-124
• ^ Gene Roddenberry, interviewed by Marc Cushman in 1982 and 1990 and quoted in These Are The Voyages: TOS -- Season 3 .
• ^ Steve Smyth, responding to Craig Weiland's question " How is IDIC not completely antithetical to logic ?", Quora , Feb. 5, 2016.
• ^ Ryan Norbauer, co-designer of the anniversary IDIC, writing in The Fleet Workshop: The Vulcan IDIC , Archived version , dated 1 November 2015.
• ^ Sue, " IDIC: I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means ." Women at Warp , July 13, 2017.
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The Emblems of the Federation Founding Members

by Jörg Hillebrand , Brad Wilder and Bernd Schneider

United Earth Emblems Vulcan Emblems Andorian Emblems and Symbols Tellarite Emblem and Script

The United Federation of Planets (UFP) was purportedly founded in 2161 by four planetary civilizations: Earth, Vulcan , Andor(ia) and Tellar. In the TNG era, we customarily see the symbols of the UFP or of Starfleet. The individual emblems of the founding members or of other member planets (150 according to Picard in "Star Trek: First Contact") appear only occasionally.

The idea of a United Earth logo dates back to the first Star Trek pilot episode "The Cage", but it reappeared only infrequently. The more prominent Vulcan IDIC, on the other hand, only gradually earned the status of a symbol to represent the whole Vulcan civilization. Aside from fan designs, an official Andorian emblem was created as late for Star Trek Enterprise, whereas it took until Discovery for the Tellarites to finally get their own emblem.

Our article investigates the evolution of the canon emblems of the four founding member planets of the UFP and identifies all notable variations, as well as related symbols.

United Earth Emblems

United earth - uss enterprise.

The same North and South America logo as in "The Cage" is visible on a paper cup in sickbay in TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which will also appear in several regular TOS episodes but probably without the logo. The layout is the same as in the first pilot, only the colors are different. Earth's continents and the lettering are now blue, while the olive branches are golden or orange. Most likely the cups were made for "The Cage" but did not make it into the episode. The clipboard with the logo from "The Cage" also returns, during the crew briefing and on Delta Vega.

The geocentric logo does not appear in further TOS episodes, owing to the fact that the Federation is supposed to be an interplanetary organization. However, the design will be picked up for a UESPA patch in Star Trek Enterprise (see below).

United Earth - Khitomer Conference

CAMERA PANS TO REVEAL POD # 3 with the KLINGON DELEGATION (BROWN?), Lead by their AMBASSADOR and POD # 4 EARTH (GREEN) DELEGATION emerging and taking their places ... the Klingon and UFP PRESIDENTS, complete with ADVISORS, RETINUIES, ENTOURAGES and ATTENDANTS. FLAGS everywhere ...

The second audience area from the left is Klingon, all with red sashes. The middle rank is occupied by the Vulcan delegation (and with the Romulan ambassador, probably as Sarek's guest), who wear yellow sashes. The fourth section from the left is for various alien Federation members, all wearing blue sashes. In the fifth area, finally, there are Starfleet officers and other alien Federation delegates. Again, these wear blue sashes.

Behind the delegates there are large emblems of each delegation on the doors and walls. On the far left, behind the human delegation, we can see a logo on the wooden wall, which is supposed to represent United Earth. Next to it is the Klingon logo , the Vulcan logo (IDIC) and the Federation logo . In addition, we can see several flags with the various logos mentioned above, including two different flags of United Earth.

The big United Earth logo in the background consists of a green circle with a white planet and a sun rising behind it. The planet includes a coordinate grid. The outer edge of the circle and the continents are brown. These do not correspond to actual continents on earth. However, the fact that the logo is behind the human delegation and that the script identifies it as such is clear evidence that this is the United Earth logo in 2293.

In addition to the big logo, there is a flag which was auctioned off a few years ago, so we could have a better look at it on this occasion. In the area next to the flagpole, there is a white triangle in which the aforementioned logo is placed. Here the planet is blue and the continents and coordinate lines are white. The rising sun is yellow and is in front of a light blue sky. The frame of the circular logo is as blue as the oceans of the planet. The rest of the flag is divided into an upper red and lower blue half. Overall, this looks much like the flag of the Philippines, only with the upper and lower half switched. (The war flag of the Philippines actually has red on the top.) In the movie we only see this flag once in an outside shot of Khitomer. It waves at the bottom of the picture in the distance, behind a railing. In the making-of video, however, we can recognize that this flag, just like the other ones in the outdoor shot, also reappears inside the building.

Besides the "Philippines" flag, we can see a banner with the logo inside the conference room, which is more prominent in the film. This banner has a yellow horizontal stripe at the top. Below is a large light green area and then a large dark green area. In the middle of the banner we can see a yellow stripe with narrow black stripes. The logo, which looks the same as on the previously described flag, is centered on this middle vertical stripe at the top of the large green field.

The "planet and sun" logo was only seen in "Star Trek VI" and never reappeared after that.

Fake "President of Earth" emblem

United Earth or UESPA - Friendship One

Actually, as the probe passes by on the screen, while the lettering is the right way, we are shown a mirror image of the emblem, with Asia being left of Africa. (What looks like West Africa is actually Eurasia!) In the same episode, we can also see the logo on a screen aboard USS Voyager where all continents are as they should be. A variation of the UESPA logo in gray can be seen on the hull of Friendship One, on the hull extension below the colorful version. This one too is mirror-inverted. The UESPA was mentioned in TOS and then silently vanished in favor of Starfleet as the Federation's only organization for space exploration. In Voyager, UESPA is retroactively defined as some sort of precursor to Starfleet.

UESPA - 602 Club

A new UESPA symbol that can be seen on a floor in Starfleet Command in ENT: "Demons" does not include an Earth map any longer but is essentially an Earth Starfleet logo, whose text and colors were modified, and the stars in the upper border were removed. The lettering "Starfleet Command - United Earth Space Probe Agency" indicates that Starfleet and the UESPA may be the same organization at that time.

United Earth - since ENT season 4

United Earth Diplomatic Corps

Terra Prime

United Earth - Discovery & Strange New Worlds

We can see the four founding member emblems on decorative flags in SNW: "Ad Astra per Aspera". The same design of the Earth emblem as in Discovery is also used in Strange New Worlds. There may be some small changes, at least in comparison to the production artwork for Discovery. We can see a bit more of Africa and Asia now.

United Earth (and Titan) - Discovery

Human species

Vulcan Emblems

Vulcan idic symbol.

The IDIC symbol does not appear in any later episode of TOS or TAS. In "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" the logo is nowhere to be seen either, neither during the scenes on Vulcan, nor on the hull of the Vulcan warp shuttle. At this time, it seems IDIC symbolizes the logical principle, rather than the planet.

In "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" and "Star Trek: The Search for Spock" we can see the IDIC in the form of a metallic wall decoration in Spock's quarters on the USS Enterprise.

Although the beginning of "Star Trek: The Voyage Hone" takes place on Vulcan, no IDIC can be seen here either. We can see the symbol again several years later in "Unification II", here on the cover of a Vulcan book. The IDIC also appears on the hull of the starship T'Pau. It is clearly visible on the only known photo of the model in its original configuration, and faintly in the footage since the HD version of TNG is available.

Chronologically, the symbol is seen the next time in the DS9 episode "Vortex". Here it adorns the back wall of the bridge of the Vulcan science ship T'Vran.

In TNG: "Gambit II", we can see the Stone of Gol. According to the sketch by Rick Sternbach, this artifact includes, when fully assembled, the IDIC symbol. Here the IDIC is the "symbol of peace" mentioned in the episode, which is located between the symbols for war and death (both personified by Vulcan gods). In the episode only the lower part of the stone is clearly visible, we can't recognize the IDIC.

The Voyager episode "Meld" shows a large wall decoration with Vulcan writing in Tuvok's office. The central portion of this wall decoration is inspired by the IDIC. In many later Voyager episodes, namely "Death Wish", "Investigations", "Fair Trade", "Hunters" and "Retrospect", Tuvok's office still features this wall decoration.

In VOY: "Flashback" there are Vulcan "building bricks" (called Keethera). Some of these blocks have the IDIC. In "Riddles" such a block is visible again.

Finally, in VOY: "Endgame", we can see some notes of Tuvok, which in addition to Vulcan characters also include the IDIC.

In Enterprise, the IDIC symbol appears in several episodes. For the first time, it shows up in ENT: "The Andorian Incident" in the Vulcan monastery on P'Jem. Here, we can spot it above a large archway in the entrance area of the monastery. Also on tokens, on the stone of J'Kah and on the forehead of a wall relief there are stylized versions of the logo.

In ENT: "Breaking the Ice" (and once again in "The Seventh") the logo appears in the upper left corner of T'Pol's screen when she receives encoded messages.

On the child's drawing of T'Pol in "Breaking the Ice" the IDIC is part of the Vulcan's uniform.

The Vulcan wall decoration from Tuvok's office appears without changes in "Fusion", on the Vulcan ship Vahklas. We can also see the Vulcan wall decoration with the IDIC symbol in "Stigma", but now in at least two versions. There is now at least one variant of the wall decoration, which also acts as a candleholder. In addition, there is a frosted glass with the IDIC in the episode.

In ENT: "Future Tense", the IDIC symbol can be seen as a part of the temporal data in Daniels's quarters.

Surak's "katric ark" from the same episode "The Forge" also features a stylized IDIC in the chest area. In the following two episodes, "Awakening" and "Kir'Shara", the wall decoration, which originally came from Tuvok's office, can be seen again in several versions. Even a mural depicting the sun rising behind Mount Seleya seems to imitate the IDIC (or vice versa, the IDIC might be inspired by a sunrise in the mountains).

We can also see the IDIC placed on the Kir'Shara-like artifcat in Spock's cave in DIS: "Light and Shadows".

In DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?", the emblems of all four founding members of the Federation are on display in front of the UFP Headquarters in Paris. The IDIC symbol is the second on the right. Later in the episode, we can also see the four respective flags. It is easy to see that the brown flag with the orange symbol has to be the Vulcan IDIC flag.

The four founding member emblems appear on decorative flags in a meeting room in SNW: "Ad Astra per Aspera". The Vulcan IDIC is stylized here, consisting only of the rings and a triangle, without a 3D effect.

Ni'Var - Discovery

Vulcan V'Shar logo

Andorian Emblems and Symbols

Andorian emblem.

In "Proving Ground" we can see the Andorian logo for the first time. It consists of circles and crescents. This logo appears as a large wall version in the upper part of the bridge of Shran's ship. A slightly less colorful variation is used as a communication graphic when Shran communicates with Andor. Both variants of the logo have Andorian characters.

In "Kir'Shara" the Andorian logo appears for the second time, on a Vulcan screen next to numerous Andorian characters.

We can see the four founding member emblems on decorative flags in SNW: "Ad Astra per Aspera". The Andorian emblem design is the same as in Discovery, except for the colors.

John Eaves designed an Andorian trophy, featuring the Andorian logo and Andorian writing, for the Quantum Archives scene in PIC: "Remembrance". The award was photographed numerous times when it was on display during the Picard exhibition. In the episode, only a small portion of the award is visible. Its location can be identified a lot better in the accompanying Ready Room episode.

Other Andorian symbols or script

Besides the emblem, Enterprise shows Andorian sets and props on several occasions. But the distinct Andorian script only exists since "Cease Fire".

In the first season we can see several different Andorian consoles. In "The Andorian Incident", for instance, there is an Andorian scanner console. It has blue buttons and a blue display, but there are no symbols or characters except for a few circles. It is obvious that no Andorian script has been developed at this time.

In "Shadows of P'Jem", another console with a slightly more complex design shows up. Just as in "The Andorian Incident", we can see a blue design with dark diagonal and horizontal lines. Instead of the simple few spheres, there are now more complex, differently sized spherical and ring-shaped symbols, some of which are strung together like pearls on a string. However, the characteristic Andorian script is still missing.

"Cease Fire" features a large, flat console, which shows a map. Here we can see Andorian characters for the first time. This prop was sold in two parts by "It's a Wrap". It is easy to see that the design has little in common with the previous Andorian consoles.

In the same episode, however, we can see the boxy console again that was created for "The Andorian Incident". The lower half of the display with the circle, in which there are dark lines and blue fields, seems to be identical. However, the upper part of the display has been changed. It now seems to depict something like a map (similar to the big screen), with Andorian characters. The console was auctioned by Christie's.

Another console seen in the prolific episode "Cease Fire", but without a display, previously appeared in "The Andorian Incident", but as a Vulcan console.

Also in "Cease Fire", a scanner/PADD appears. In the episode itself, the display is not recognizable, but It's a Wrap! has auctioned the prop and we can clearly make out Andorian characters on the photo, plus what looks like an early version of the Andorian logo with circles and crescents. However, it is also possible that this graphic was added to a later re-use.

In "Shadows of P'Jem", we already saw a bottle of Andorian Ale. This one was brown, completely differently shaped and seemed to have no label.

Various static consoles were created for "Proving Ground". These contain design elements from both previous console designs. So they have circles and rings of different sizes, like the console in "Shadows of P'Jem", as well as Andorian characters, like the consoles in "Cease Fire". New are the rows of crescents and circles that line up. These mimic the Andorian logo, which was newly created for the latter episode. So, one can say that the new console designs both pick up the consoles from the previous two episodes and add new details.

"Proving Ground" also shows numerous characteristic wall stickers, which contain Andorian characters, crescents and balls. There are also two bowl-shaped structures bearing stickers with Andorian spherical symbols (as in "Shadows of P'Jem"), on the left and right next to the captain's chair. There are also animated wall displays, but they are never clearly visible. It seems that these are large, animated Andorian crescents.

"Proving Ground" briefly shows an Andorian PADD, similar to one that was auctioned off.

Andorian characters can also be seen in the data about the Xindi weapon that Shran transfers to Archer.

"It's a Wrap" auctioned off an "Andorian banner" from "Proving Ground". However, this banner is almost unrecognizable in the episode, as it is hidden behind a milky plastic cover.

In "Zero Hour" we are shown the bridge of Shran's ship again. The design of the consoles and stickers has not changed. The Andorian logo is not visible this time.

In "Kir'Shara", we can see a large animated display on Shran's ship, which has characteristic Andorian shapes, and a new console, on whose back there is a large sticker with buttons. The displays on this new console show both Andorian characters and the series of crescents imitating the logo.

An Andorian PADD can also be seen in "Kir'Shara" The design is identical to the PADD from "Proving Ground", but the display has been changed.

In "Babel One", the bridge of Shran's ship is destroyed. Several well-known Andorian consoles show up again. One display is shown up close. We can recognize all elements of the characteristic Andorian console design. There is, however, a second, new console on the bridge, which seems little Andorian with its hexagonal control panels and unknown characters. We suspect that another alien console has been reused here. Anyway, this is not the front console for two crew members that we still know from "Proving Ground". Andorian consoles are featured for the last time in this episode.

The bottle of Andorian ale in "Babel One" is the same design as in "Proving Ground".

In "United" we see a close view of an Andorian PADD for the first time. The display is the same as on the last appearance in "Kir'Shara". The back of the PADD has Andorian characters.

Many Andorian characters and symbols resembling the wall stickers are also on the screen on the Enterprise bridge as Hoshi gathers information about the Ushaan.

In "The Aenar" the Andorian scanner shows up again, which already appeared in "Cease Fire". It seems to have the same display as at the "It's a Wrap" auction (see above).

In the last few Enterprise episodes, we can only see the already established Andorian PADD ("Demons", "Terra Prime") and Andorian wall stickers in "These Are The Voyages".

Aenar symbols

The layout of the Aenar city features many circles and crescents, just like on the Aenar and Andorian emblems. The fondness of these symbols may originate in the ringed gas giant, which the actual planet Andoria apparently orbits, as seen in ENT: "The Aenar".

Tellarite Emblem and Script

Tellarite script.

Disregarding the "swan emblem" of 61 Cygni from the Star Fleet Technical Manual because it is never identified as belonging to Tellar , there has never been a Tellarite emblem in classic Star Trek. Even though the Tellarites appeared prominently on Star Trek Enterprise, we could never see anything like an emblem. There is, however, a distinctive Tellarite writing that obviously was the foundation for the logo that finally appeared in Discovery.

Tellarite writing can be seen in ENT: "Bounty" on the ship of the Tellarite bounty hunter. All different characters of Tellarite writing have a diamond-shaped outline, and differ in the indentations. Even the buttons on a console are diamond-shaped (or more precisely, quadratic and turned 45 degrees).

On closer inspection (possible since Blu-ray caps are available), we can recognize that all Tellarite letters consist of small diamonds (not dots) in a 4x4 grid. The individual letters use all fields in this grid, except for the leftmost and the rightmost one.

Tellarite emblem

The letters as reconstructed for Discovery and best recognizable on the Tellarite emblem also use the two outermost diamonds of the 4x4 grid, unlike those on Star Trek Enterprise.

The emblem as well as the script reappear in the Short Treks episode "The Escape Artist". Here, Harry Mudd is kidnapped by a Tellarite bounty hunter, and we can see Tellarite symbols in various places. The Tellarite emblem is visible on one of the pipes behind Harry.

The four founding member emblems appear on decorative flags in a meeting room in SNW: "Ad Astra per Aspera". The Tellartite emblem is hard to recognize because it is out of focus. It is monochrome here, just like the symbols on the other flags.

Possible Tellarite symbol

The Evolution of the Federation Emblem - exhaustive survey of all variants

The Evolution of the Federation Flag - investigation of all familiar and obscure variations

Earth and Federation Emblems Gallery

Alpha and Beta Quadrant Emblems L-Z

Some screen caps from TrekCore . Thanks to Star Trek Auction Listings , from where we took several photos of auctioned items.

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Vulcan Wisdom on Star Trek: The IDIC Philosophy

In the vast Star Trek universe, where numerous alien philosophies abound, few stand out as brilliantly as the Vulcan ideology of IDIC: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

Emerging from the original Star Trek series, IDIC not only serves as a cornerstone of Vulcan belief, but as a beacon of universal wisdom. It celebrates the inherent value of diversity in all its forms, and it underscores the notion that the universe is a tapestry of unique perspectives, cultures, and experiences.

Embracing diversity isn't merely about tolerance; it's about recognizing the inherent strength and beauty that arises from it. IDIC offers a path toward harmony and understanding. It challenges individuals to move beyond their preconceptions and biases, fostering empathy and cooperation.

In the original Star Trek series, Captain Kirk, in his frequent encounters with new civilizations, often invoked the spirit of IDIC, recognizing the importance of understanding and respecting differences.

In today's world, fraught with division and discord, the philosophy of IDIC challenges us to look beyond our differences and find common ground, celebrating the unique contributions each individual brings to the mosaic of humanity.

In the end, IDIC offers not just a philosophy but a vision of a universe where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated, where understanding triumphs over fear, and where unity arises from the recognition of our shared humanity. It is a vision worth striving for, not just in the realm of fiction, but in our own reality today.

A huge thanks to Karen Christians for gifting me one of her amazing Vulcan IDIC pins, it's so gorgeous !!! Here's a video on how they're made: https://bit.ly/3wSI7Jy

🖖😍 Star Trek Gigi

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What 'Star Trek' has taught us about diversity

On September 8, 1966, a new kind of show premiered on NBC. Described by creator Gene Roddenberry as a Western set in space, " Star Trek " took viewers to the 23rd century on a five-year mission to explore space aboard a ship called the Enterprise. 

But, what was immediately remarkable about this television show wasn’t its setting or tone: It was its cast.

The iconic crew of the original Enterprise is now a staple in television history. But it’s worth remembering how rare it was, in that era, to see any characters of color on television that weren’t just negative stereotypes. 

George Takei, a Japanese-American actor, played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu while the lovely Nichelle Nichols, an African-American actress, portrayed Lieutenant Uhura. Seeing these two characters on screen, as a part of this utopic future changed countless lives for the better. Kids took their inspiration from a future in which all would be included. For the first time, kids of color could see themselves on screen in positive ways, and the repercussions have lasted generations . 

Related: 7 Lessons 'Star Trek' Taught Us About Life, Leadership and Diversity

Roddenberry believed in an idea he termed as IDIC, or "infinite diversity in infinite combinations." The fundamental belief behind IDIC is a celebration of the diversity the universe has to offer. While it’s since been labeled a marketing ploy intended to sell merchandise (Roddenberry ascribed this philosophy to the Vulcans on screen), that doesn’t mean IDIC hasn’t had a lasting impact on the franchise. As Roddenberry’s son, Gene "Rod" Roddenberry, Jr., said in "The Fifty Year Mission," an oral history of "Star Trek" by Mark Altman and Edward Gross, IDIC is "one of the backbones of the original series” and focuses on the idea of “universal acceptance."

But what does "universal acceptance" mean? That’s a difficult question and one that many still struggle to answer today. It’s worth looking at what Trek has taught us, both on and off-screen, to help us grapple with what being inclusive really means as often, societal realities fall short of the ideal. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stop trying to do and be better.

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While "Star Trek" has almost always been ahead of its time in terms of diversity portrayal on-screen (with the notable exception of "Enterprise," which regressed somewhat in terms of representation), the different Trek series do reflect the time in which they were produced. 

Revisiting Trek

"The Original Series," for example, may have been lauded for its inclusivity, but there was only one woman on the bridge. Takei has become a cultural icon, but it’s easy to forget how little character development he was given on screen, to the point where he was omitted from some episodes altogether. 

"The Next Generation," on the other hand, had just two women in its regular cast throughout the bulk of the series, and just one character of color in LeVar Burton’s Geordi La Forge. (However, there were two regular actors of color on the show — Michael Dorn, a Black actor, played Worf in full makeup every episode). 

"Deep Space Nine," features one of the most meaningful father/son relationships in television history between Benjamin Sisko and his son Jake, played respectively by Black actors Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton, but maintained the status quo of an overwhelmingly male cast. Additionally, the Ferengi were rightly criticized as being antisemitic Jewish stereotypes.

" Voyager," increased the number of regular female cast members to three and expanded racial representation, but it’s hard to forget the catsuits that Jeri Ryan was forced to wear as Seven of Nine in an effort to "sex up" the series .

That’s another important lesson that "Star Trek" teaches us: When it comes to inclusiveness, execution matters just as much as intention. It’s not enough to add in women and characters of color as set dressing. They need to be included in the show in a meaningful, purposeful way, something that the franchise has learned over the years.

Related: How Borgs, Vulcans and doctors showed diversity on 'Star Trek: Voyager'

"Discovery" premiered on CBS All Access to much fanfare in 2017, after "Trek" took a 12-year break from the small screen. The series lead is Sonequa Martin Green, a Black woman who plays Michael Burnham; the show also features its first gay couple in Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber, played by Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz, respectively. While there is always room to do better, the show embodies the diversity that the franchise has always espoused. From female friendships to the diverse secondary cast, the LBTQIA+ representation and the women of color in positions of power: When it comes to representation, this show is an endless delight.

However, "Discovery" was uneven in its first season: " Creative differences" led to choppy storytelling, and the congenial, diverse environment onscreen hid a toxic, abusive writer’s room . As the show course-corrected in its second season and fans eagerly await the third, this behind-the-scenes drama reminds us that toxic environments can exist anywhere, even in places that proclaim to value diversity.

Indeed, the backlash to "Discovery" in certain segments of the fandom underlined this lesson: On the surface, legions of Trek fans proclaim to love the diversity the franchise has historically presented. However, a subset of "fans" is in open revolt at the future "Discovery" shows us. 

"Star Trek" has almost always catered to a straight white male demographic (with the exception of "Voyager," which was led by female captain Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew). By placing women, gay men and characters of color at the front and center, Discovery’s message is that those straight white male fans aren’t necessarily centered anymore. It’s not that they aren’t important — just that other fans matter too. And many aren’t taking to that revelation kindly.

That’s not to say that every criticism of "Discovery" is rooted in anti-inclusiveness — it’s impossible for one show to cater to everyone’s tastes, especially in a fandom as vast and varied as this. But Alex Kurtzman, who holds the future of the "Star Trek" franchise in his hands, has made it clear that he’s continuing to learn these lessons of inclusivity as he leads, taking Trek’s impactful but imperfect history into account every step of the way. 

It’s not perfect, and it likely never will be. But that’s okay. The most important thing that "Star Trek" has taught us about diversity is that we will go in with the best of intentions, and often we’ll mess it up. But with every next step, we’ll continue to try and do better.

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• Mergatroid "But, what was immediately remarkable about this television show wasn’t its setting or tone: It was its cast. " This is what I find so bizarre about the world now. When Star Trek first hit the screen, we didn't find it amazing because of the cast. The cast was so natural, and everyone fit their roles so perfectly, the diversity of the crew just seemed normal. It wasn't anything brought up. Forced diversity is not the same thing. If Star Trek came out today for the first time, there would be people on the set and in the audience actually counting genders and races to make sure there was a perfect mix, like anything in life is perfect. What people want today and what Gene Roddenberry envisioned are not the same thing. Another perfect example, the first interracial kiss. They didn't make a big deal out of it, it's just a part of the story. It could have been any two characters, but the way they did it made it seem like no big deal, something that was normal in that time. Of course it was a big deal for the people watching the show in the 1960s, but not for the characters from hundreds of years in the future. If they did this today, they would likely make an entire production out of it. This goes back to the same problems the new Star Trek series have. I notice a lot of sites like interviews with people in the industry talking about "toxic fans", but no one talks about the toxcic producers who come out with a show they know the fans are not going to embrace, because they asked and were told no, that's not a good idea, but they come out with them anyway and then are surprised when the fans are not happy. They are just taking todays problems and projecting them into the future and Star Trek when that show is supposed to be about a better future. That was Gene's vision, a future when our civilization is a better place and people get along. They have ruined Star Trek, in fact it's 'Trek in name only now, and no longer has anyting to do with Gene Roddenberry's vsion. Reply
• Jasper "But, what was immediately remarkable about this television show wasn’t its setting or tone: It was its cast." In a way it is sad to look at people with coloured glasses. I looked at it in black and white on a very small TV and it was the best and most inspiring thing I ever saw. I wonder how many Vulcans got inspired by it? Reply
• BobW George was missing only because he was filming "The Green Berets" Reply

Mergatroid said: Another perfect example, the first interracial kiss. They didn't make a big deal out of it, it's just a part of the story. It could have been any two characters, but the way they did it made it seem like no big deal, something that was normal in that time. Of course it was a big deal for the people watching the show in the 1960s, but not for the characters from hundreds of years in the future. If they did this today, they would likely make an entire production out of it.

Mergatroid said: They are just taking todays problems and projecting them into the future and Star Trek when that show is supposed to be about a better future.

Admin said: What is so remarkable about Star Trek isn't its setting or tone: It is its cast. What Star Trek has taught us about diversity : Read more

J Smith said: They DID expect some controversy, so they filmed a few takes where they didn't actually kiss. They were WELL AWARE of the racial strife going on in 1968, and the potential blowback that this scene might have generated. Nichelle Nichols has spoken about the episode multiple times, noting that while there was some concern that the episode would spark protest amongst viewers, but the reaction was generally positive. The point you might be missing here, is that they did that scene DESPITE what the network and a lot of racists would have wanted. I seem to recall the original ST series doing that several times. I.e. the classic "Let that be your last Battlefield" was all about racial strife, and it's utter meaningless. It was obviously a problem (then & now). The problem in recent times is that you have people who now feel it is perfectly okay to spew their racism in public, just because our current president and his party gives them permission to do so. These are the same people that have a fit at the local Costco/WalMart because they're asked to wear a mask to help stop the spread of Covid19. This is why the disease is currently raging in this country with over 155,000 deaths, while it is mostly a non-issue in most other countries now (it's nonexistent in New Zealand). I've witnessed this defect in our national character more than once in the last four years. In a comments section for the movie "Hidden Figures" there were many obvious racists bemoaning about how the movie was "made up hollywood racial diversity BS", and that it never happened. I used to admin on a TF2 server a few years back, and I seen many of these types on there. They also liked to pick on women gamers (misogynists & racists tend to be fellow travelers). Surprisingly, many were millennials. I had to constantly ban people like that off of our server whenever they reared their ugly heads. Some of the best gamers I know are women. I like the new Star Trek Discovery series, even if it is not a straight white man centric storyline. It does have racial and even sexual diversity in it, but that does not detract from the interesting and expanding storylines unless you allow your own prejudices to get in the way. Remember, in the future nobody cares what your race OR sexual orientation is. I think Gene Roddenberry would have not only approved of this new series, he would have been proud. FYI, I'm an straight white man over 50.

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Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations

Philosophy and Teachings of Surak

The sayings, wisdom, and teachings of Surak; and those attributed to him after his death; play an extremely important part in Vulcan culture and society. Although all Vulcans do not follow his teachings in the same manner and some have even rejected his teachings, the vast majority of Vulcans revere Surak above all other vulcans past or present. It is unlikely this will ever change as long as an advanced culture lives on T’Khasi. Recent information has shown that selected items from Surak’s teachings, approved by the government, are even taught in Romulan society!

One of the most important philosophies to come from Surak’s teachings was the concept of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) or Va’Vuhnaya s’Va’Terishlar in Traditional Golic Vulcan . Most followers of the teachings of Surak are believers of this concept. As recognition of that fact, these adherents will wear or display the famous IDIC symbol designed by Surak. Many non-Vulcans have adopted this belief and the symbol as well.

—Mark R Gardner, The Vulcan Language , p. 299

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What Is the Philosophical Perspective of  Star Trek?

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This question  originally appeared on Quora , the best answer to any question. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and access insider knowledge. You can follow Quora on Twitter , Facebook , and Google Plus .

Answer by Robert Frost , engineer/instructor at NASA, hardcore Star Trek fan since I was 2:

Humanism. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the original series, was an ardent humanist and imbued the show with those ideas, sometimes to the show’s success, sometimes to its detriment. Humanism is defined as “an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.”

Roddenberry believed that humans were wonderful creatures and would be responsible for their own accomplishments. He often said: “Ancient astronauts didn’t build the pyramids. Human beings built the pyramids, because they’re clever and they work hard.”

Through Star Trek he wanted to show a future where we had grown up and were reaching our potential. This view provided the optimism and inspiration that cemented the show into the hearts of so many viewers. But it made it a challenging show for the writers and actors. Roddenberry’s view that we would be better people in the time of Star Trek in effect changed human nature and removed many of the natural sources of conflict for the stories the shows told. Roddenberry was opposed to conflict between the crew members of the Enterprise . We could see the verbal sparring between Spock and McCoy, representative of their different cultures and used to highlight the human ideals by having Spock not be human, but not a lot of other friction between the crew. Roddenberry played an active role in the original series, rewriting scripts to bring them into line with his views.

By the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation , Roddenberry was ailing, and his role in the show decreased sharply after the first season. As other people ran the show, they struggled with the limitations they felt these views placed on the show, and the shows adapted. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager , although still inspired by humanism, did not feel beholden to this idea that humans will have dramatically changed in just a few hundred years. They are noticeably different series, with far more conflict between the main characters.

Opinions vary on whether this helped or hurt the shows, but the humanistic perspective was essential to the show in the 1960s. The 1960s were volatile: Society was being asked to make dramatic changes in its views on race, sex, and many other issues. Roddenberry felt that progress was held back by the dogmatic structures of religions and politics that encouraged conservatism.

The ideas communicated through the original series are eternal ideas, but they really should be viewed in the context of the 1960s to understand why they are in Star Trek .

The Prime Directive introduced the idea that humans (Starfleet or the Federation) should not interfere in the development of other cultures. This was an overt statement against the U.S. involvement in Vietnam or, more broadly, the chess game between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, to establish their political philosophies around the developing world.

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations introduced the idea that a diverse society is better than a monolithic one. This was an overt statement against segregation.

However, Roddenberry was no saint to his professed ideals. He may have dreamed of a future where money was not needed and there was no greed, but he intentionally introduced the IDIC symbol into Star Trek so that the mail-order company started by Roddenberry and his mistress could profit by selling the symbols to fans. This incident caused a rift between Roddenberry and Leonard Nimoy (Spock).

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Screen Rant

10 vulcan proverbs in star trek.

Star Trek's Vulcans prioritize logic above emotion. Here's a look at some fascinating and wise words from Earth's greatest interstellar allies.

• Vulcans prioritize a commitment to logic, valuing reason over emotion.
• Vulcan proverbs and customs highlight diversity, logic, and peaceful coexistence.
• Vulcan philosophy emphasizes unity, the acceptance of change, and the wisdom found in balancing logic and emotion.

Introduced as Earth's closest, first, and greatest interstellar allies, Star Trek ' s Vulcans are known for their advanced technology, logical mindset, and seemingly emotionless demeanor. Vulcan culture values intelligence and rationality, leading them to prioritize exploration and political success. Despite a stoic exterior, Vulcans form deep connections with others, placing great value on privacy and private contemplation. Vulcan's strong and co-founding presence in the United Federation of Planets highlights a respected standing in the galaxy. The Vulcan relationship with Earth is challenging, beneficial, and instructive, revealing a collection of wise insights and philosophical ideals .

The Vulcan proverbs from Star Trek's series and movies offer a glimpse into the values and beliefs that shape this enigmatic alien race. With their extraordinary abilities like touch-telepathy, exceptional hearing, and impeccable logic, Vulcans navigate the universe with a perspective far removed from humans. The contrast between Vulcan's emphasis on reason and Earth's curious impulsiveness creates an enjoyable and intriguing dynamic. Delving into the essence of Vulcan culture reveals a complex society that seeks to balance tradition with progress, making them a fascinating and essential part of the Star Trek universe.

Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

10 "live long and prosper", star trek: the original series season 2, episode 5 - "amok time".

The iconic Vulcan saying " Live long and prosper " was first uttered in Star Trek: The Original Series but frequently repeated in the franchise's later series and movies. This traditional farewell greeting is often accompanied by a one-handed gesture dubbed the Vulcan salute. The farewell was first spoken by Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in the TOS season 2 episode, "Amok Time," following the kal-if-fee (challenge) fight with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Believing that he has killed Kirk, Spock addresses the Vulcan Priestess T'Pau (Celia Lovsky) and tells her that he " shall do neither " when she responds with the phrase in kind.

Leonard Nimoy based the famous Vulcan hand salute on a Jewish priestly blessing.

"Amok Time" is an important Star Trek episode offering a rare insight into Vulcan customs, culture, and tradition. It also reflects on the power of strong emotions as Spock experiences a charged combination of fear, anger, lust, and grief as events unfold. The phrase " Live long and prosper " has evolved into a timeless symbol of hope and goodwill , resonating throughout the Star Trek franchise and capturing the essence of Vulcan philosophy.

9 "Infinite Diversity In Infinite Combinations"

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 7 - "is there no truth in beauty".

The Vulcan IDIC, which stands for " Infinite diversity in infinite combinations ," is a fundamental concept in Vulcan philosophy. Introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode " Is There In Truth No Beauty? ", this emblem symbolizes the importance of diversity. The episode delves into themes such as the perception of beauty, tolerance, prejudice, self-worth, and telepathic ability, making the exploration of this core Vulcan value significant and impactful. The IDIC symbol, represented by a triangle over a circle, has become a recurring symbol throughout the Star Trek franchise , appearing in various episodes and even influencing the design of the Prime Timeline Spock 's Jellyfish ship in Star Trek (2009).

The IDIC serves as a reminder of the value of diversity and acceptance, reflecting the ideals upheld by the Vulcan civilization. Its presence in multiple Star Trek iterations demonstrates its enduring relevance and influence on the series' overarching themes. From its introduction as a key component of Vulcan philosophy to its portrayal in various forms throughout the franchise, the IDIC continues to serve as a symbol of unity and appreciation for differences across the galaxy.

8 “I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.” - Surak"

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 22 - "the savage curtain".

In the iconic Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Savage Curtain," Captain Kirk and Spock become engaged in a study of good and evil. Upon their first encounter with the historical icon Surak (Barry Atwater), the Vulcan philosopher and scientist utters the profound phrase, " I am pleased to see that we are different. May we together be more than the sum of our parts ."

Promoting diversity, inclusion, and peace, the phrase celebrates differences and friendship.

This Vulcan quote encapsulates the core value of diversity and unity within the Star Trek universe , echoing the qualities of IDIC . Promoting diversity, inclusion, and peace, the phrase celebrates differences and friendship and rejects prejudice as petty, illogical, and small-minded. The sentiment is a fitting lesson from the 'father of modern Vulcan civilization,' operating to inspire and remind us of the endless possibilities that can arise when working harmoniously with others.

7 "In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace." - Tuvok

Star trek: voyager season 5, episode 5 - "once upon a time".

When an ion storm causes Star Trek: Voyager 's Delta Flyer shuttle to crash on a class M planet, leaving the away team stranded, the situation quickly escalates as the craft becomes submerged 3km below ground with the rocky chamber around them filled with toxic gas. With life support failing, Tuvok (Tim Russ) tries to comfort the critically injured away team member as the survivors' air supply dwindles. Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) expresses disbelief at their predicament, musing that he never expected to be buried alive on an unknown planet. Meaning well, Tuvok suggests that "In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace," but the sentiment does little to ease the team's anxiety.

It reflects the logical and tranquil characteristics of Vulcan philosophy.

While Paris jests about preferring the familiar Vulcan saying " Live Long and Prosper ," Tuvok's attempt at solace underscores his stoic nature. Although the comment may fall short of providing immediate comfort, it reflects the logical and tranquil characteristics of Vulcan philosophy in challenging situations. Outside the dire circumstances they face, Tuvok's words hold a deeper wisdom that resonates with the composed demeanor of his species.

6 "Nothing Unreal Exists"

Star trek iv: the voyage home.

Shortly after Spock's resurrection on Vulcan , he undertakes an educational memory test and is presented with questions on various topics, including science, maths, and philosophy. When asked, " What is Kiri-kin-tha's first law ?" Spock correctly answers, " Nothing unreal exists. " This law, stemming from Surak's teachings, showcases the Vulcans' logical and analytical thinking, offering a simplified insight into the complex topic of metaphysics. It provides a foundation for understanding philosophical meaning and existence and showcases the impressive depth of Vulcan knowledge, wisdom, and reasoning.

The significance of Kiri-kin-tha's first law is revisited in Star Trek: Enterprise , season four episode "The Forge," where Arev (Michael Nouri) questions Archer about these guiding principles in the Vulcan desert. This retconned narrative twist in the franchise's timeline allows the prequel series to delve deeper into Vulcan cultural themes and build on the concepts introduced in previous iterations of the Star Trek universe.

5 "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one)." - Spock & Kirk k

Star trek ii: the wrath of khan and star trek iii: the search for spock.

One of the most iconic quotes from Star Trek , this phrase is closely tied to the heartbreaking scenes of Mr. Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . While it is synonymous with this moment, the phrase also appears in several of the franchise's other films. In this second movie, Spock sacrifices himself to repair the ship and save the crew from ongoing attack , ultimately succumbing to radiation poisoning. His final words to Kirk, emphasizing the logic behind his actions, set the stage for a recurring theme that extends into the next film, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock .

After Spock's resurrection, Kirk offers a different perspective on the phrase. When Spock asks Kirk why he sacrificed so much to help him, Kirk inverts the sentiment by stating that "the needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many." This quote reversal speaks to the ongoing struggle between logic and emotion seen throughout the franchise's various shows, particularly in Star Trek: The Original Series .

4 "One man can summon the future." - T'Pol / "One man cannot summon the future." - Spock

Star trek: enterprise season 4, episode 13 - "united" & star trek: the original series season 2, episode 10 - "mirror, mirror".

In a crucial moment to protect an operational alliance, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) arranges to take the place of a Tellerite dignitary in a fight to the death with the Andorian Commander, Thy'lek Shran (Jeffrey Combs). First Officer T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) expresses concern for Archer's safety , but he argues that - of the three parties negotiating - his death is the only one that would not endanger the alliance. This fourth season episode of Star Trek: Enterprise hints at the early steps towards forming the United Federation of Planets .

Both instances exemplify the power of individuals in pivotal moments.

The sentiment is inverted in an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series , where Captain James T. Kirk attempts to convince the ruthless Mirror universe Spock of the futility of an illogical universe. Spock is dismissive, stating that " one man cannot summon the future, " but Kirk underscores the significance of individual actions in shaping the present. Both instances exemplify the power of individuals in pivotal moments within the Star Trek universe, reinforcing the idea that personal choices can greatly impact the course of events.

3 "Change is the essential process of all existence." - Spock

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 15 - "let that be your last battlefield".

Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew are inadvertently involved in a long-standing conflict between Lokai (Lou Antonio) and Commissioner Bele (Frank Gorshin) , a fugitive and his pursuer from the planet Cheron. This allegorical episode explores themes of racism and prejudice, revenge, hatred, and obsession - the two guest alien characters are too stubbornly caught up in their vendetta to notice the obliteration of their planet. Highlighting this idea and observing their driven visitors' intractable views and behavior, Spock remarks to Bele that " change is the essential process of all existence ." Bele is too focused on his task to capture Lokai, and the lesson goes unheeded.

With change comes progress.

It's an important observation of life , however, subtly acknowledging that with change comes progress. Though the sentiment seems at odds with the slow, stuffy perception of Vulcan tradition, it provides a clear perspective when considering the development and evolution of Vulcan culture and history in shows such as Star Trek: The Original Series and Enterprise .

2 "Without followers, evil cannot spread." - Spock

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 5 - "and the children shall lead".

Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew face a formidable enemy that preys on their deepest fears to take over the ship and control their minds. With the help of a group of impressionable young children who follow the "Friendly Angel" known simply as Gorgon (Melvin Belli), a non-corporeal being from the Triacus, Kirk and Spock find themselves isolated and outnumbered on their own ship.

Realizing the children's pivotal role in the enemy's plans, Spock reminds Kirk that evil thrives only with the support of followers . It's a dark moment that highlights the predation of evil on innocents. This insight prompts them to strategize how to reclaim the Enterprise and defeat the Gorgon. The allegorical message of how evil spreads through cooperation, manipulation, and ignorance is a timeless and historically significant lesson that gains new perspective in light of the evolving Vulcan history depicted in later series.

1 "Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end." - Spock

Star trek vi: the undiscovered country.

In the 1991 movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , Spock is confronted with the reality that his protégé, Lt. Valeris (Kim Cattrell) , is conspiring against the Federation to sabotage diplomatic negotiations and assassinate the Klingon Chancellor. Spock's statement that " Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end " is a profound message that reflects the idea that knowledge and understanding go beyond mere logic. Spock's own diverse experiences and interactions with a mostly Human crew and multiple other alien species undoubtedly shape his perspective, offering an informed insight that wisdom involves more than analysis and reasoning.

Spock's unique background as a Vulcan-human hybrid has given him a deeper understanding of the complexities of wisdom. Despite the long-standing internal struggle between his logical and emotional sides, Spock recognizes the importance of embracing both aspects to achieve true knowledge. Themes of unity and diversity resonate throughout the Star Trek universe , emphasizing the value of different perspectives in finding solutions and ultimately achieving peace.

All Star Trek series (except Star Trek: Prodigy) are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek I-X (movies) are available to stream on Max.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star trek: voyager, star trek: enterprise, star trek: discovery.

George Takei Responds To Star Trek: Discovery's Diversity Controversy

While many are excited for Star Trek: Discovery to air, the series has sparked a bit of controversy with its diverse cast. In what some communities are referring to as "white genocide in space," the supposed lack of white representation in the new show has upset some folks. Star Trek franchise vet George Takei appeared on MSNBC and responded to the diversity controversy:

Now these so-called trolls haven't seen a single episode of the new series, because it hasn't been aired. And they don't know the history of Star Trek [either] ... Gene Roddenberry created this with the idea of finding strength in our diversity -- and also the delight of life in diversity. We had a guiding acronym -- IDIC -- which stood for infinite diversity in infinite combinations. We boldly went where we hadn't gone before because we were curious about what's out there. And when you go out into space, you are going to have even greater diversity.

Indeed, the basis of Star Trek from its very beginnings seems to have been rooted in diversity. Long before Michelle Yeoh or Sonequa Martin-Green joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery , you had people like Nichelle Nichols and, of course, George Takei paving the way for an evolving sci-fi in the late 1960s. As I'm sure many reading this know, William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols made history in 1968 with television's first interracial kiss . (A disputable issue, but still.)

Going back to Takei's point to MSNBC , those who complain about the lack of diversity in Star Trek are, regardless to whether or not they've been following the new series, perhaps blind to the fact that the series has always embraced diversity. And if they were looking into the current batch of cast members, they would know that the series does feature quite a few white actors and actresses.

The acronym that George Takei mentions as the guiding principle for Star Trek is actually a part of the official lore. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is the basis of Vulcan philosophy, and a symbol Spock is seen to wear in the Star Trek series. ( Leonard Nimoy was reportedly not a fan of the symbol and claimed Gene Roddenberry created it as a way to sell more replica merchandise to the fans, though there's no word on how he felt about the concept itself.) If you look around the various Star Trek shows you'll see the IDIC symbol, which looks like a pyramid with a star on top with a larger crescent like circle encompassing it, in various Vulcan scenes.

George Takei, and the rest of the world, will have to keep waiting to see Star Trek: Discovery , as the series has been scheduled for a fall premiere on the streaming platform CBS All Access, with no exact date given. You can sit around and wait for a more official time, or you can kill time with all the new television popping up every day! Check out our summer TV guide to see what's premiering and returning, and also keep tabs on when the show's your watching now will air their finales .

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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IDIC: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations

— Gene Roddenberry

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Published Feb 22, 2021

IDIC Includes Me, and That's Why Star Trek Matters

"I have always felt like an alien in a world of Humans because I see the world and situations differently than others, and that is a lonely path to tread."

StarTrek.com

I feel that Star Trek is a part of me because it helps me to identify with who I am as a person and I believe that it also teaches that being different than others isn't bad or wrong; it is acceptable and encouraged. I am working on being happy as I am because Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations most definitely includes me.

I have Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, which is on the autism spectrum, along with ADHD and I've always felt like I stand apart from they who are 'normal.' I was only accurately diagnosed about 10 years ago after suffering through many years of misdiagnoses, stigmas, neglectful doctors, and disastrous experiences with medication. I have always felt like an alien in a world of Humans because I see the world and situations differently than others, and that is a lonely path to tread.

Even though I see my neurodivergency as a burden a lot of the time, I also have learned to make the best of it over the years, as many Star Trek characters and crews have done when faced with challenging circumstances beyond their control. I've got 15 years of experience in journalism, 24 years on and off in small acting jobs, 10 years in filmmaking/producing, and I've been writing since 1994. COVID-19 did not stop my desire to work hard and I found ways to keep busy, but socializing became more difficult than it already was to begin with. With in-person socializing suddenly gone, I knew I had to get creative.

Among other things, I ended up delving into some virtual Star Trek fan groups to pass the time. It was very stimulating for me and helped assuage feelings of loss I had associated with the pandemic. One of those clubs involved being able to chat with an actual Star Trek actor over Zoom. After signing up repeatedly, I was finally chosen to chat with the actor. During that chat, I shared about how I was a freelance journalist and how I worked very hard over the past 15 years to create the most ethically correct stories possible. The actor seemed impressed and asked why I was only in freelancing since I appeared to have such passion and talent. I was scared to death of telling the truth, so I lied and said it was due to a lack of connections, and was immensely relieved when the actor changed the topic to something else.

My real answer to that actor’s question, however, was that I don't have a huge career simply because at least in my neck of the woods, employers look at people with my type of disability and think them utterly unemployable and unmanageable. Freelancing is not the same as steady work and I wish I could get steady work, but I cannot seem to impress or make an employer comfortable enough with the neurodivergencies that make me who I am — in part, a talented and impassioned writer.

Despite the Star Trek world proclaiming and standing by the IDIC principle, the reality is that mainstream society is still a long way from embracing it. As such, I have constant struggles with socialization and trying to fit into social, religious, or familial groups because people expect me to act a certain way and express anything but patience with my shortcomings. I am very fortunate, however, that I have enough professional skills and experience that I can manage to make the most of what opportunities happen to open themselves to me. It takes a lot of effort to hide my quirks so I can function professionally, but I manage.

I liken that part of my life and myself to Julian Bashir’s obsession with hiding his true self from everyone around him simply because he felt ashamed of what was beyond his control. Even though it was his parents who had him genetically engineered, Julian blamed and shamed himself for the entire situation, as I sometimes do even though being born neurodivergent isn’t something that was within my control. Even after he was exposed as being different, he did his best with what he had. Unfortunately, Julian was also severely under-appreciated and even taken advantage of because of who he was. I can empathize with Julian’s struggles, as I often find myself misunderstood and shunned over my lack of social intelligence. I can learn how to be better, but it is not a quick process and people don’t show compassion over my ‘pace.’

In reflecting on my own experiences, I thought about not only Julian Bashir, but also about Reginald Barclay, Spock, Worf, Tilly, and Data. I see all of them as being divergent individuals who always gave their best efforts to fit in with the big crowd, but ended up being a target of bullying, gossip, and malice because they were divergent. Each individual was somewhat marginalized socially and professionally because some typical individuals were dead set against trying to be more inclusive towards them. Fortunately, they did have people who loved and cared about them enough to help them find their niches. Never mind the fact that they weren't like everyone else, they were seen as good enough to approach success. Spock had Kirk and McCoy; Data had Picard; Barclay had the crew of Voyager ; Worf had friends wherever he served; and in recent episodes of Discovery , we see that Tilly acquired an advocate in Saru because he expressed faith in her abilities when everyone else didn’t.

When I was born, nobody at the time knew exactly what to call neurodivergence; they just knew I wasn’t like everyone else. When I was just three years old, my family doctor at the time told my mother that I would be better off in a group home because my divergency would only be a burden to her. My mother, however, refused to give up on me and enlisted close friends to help raise me because my father didn’t want to help. I was extremely innocent and oblivious, however, to the fact that I was a laughingstock of those around me. I was, though, somewhat academically gifted and used that to attend school at an earlier age. In that way, I liken myself to Julian Bashir as he visibly struggled with appropriate social behaviors despite being intellectually gifted.

The lack of understanding from teachers in terms of my differences made me realize very early on that I was different than other children my age. My mother would constantly fight with teachers who thought me stupid simply because of the problems I had. This resulted in me going to six different elementary schools. And while I only went to one junior high school and one high school,  junior high was a struggle because of my consistent struggles with socializing.

I have good education, insane work ethic, great skill and talent, but people are afraid of taking a chance on me. It’s a harsh reality; not everyone finds caring people to help them find joy in who they are. Julian Bashir is a prime example of how some don’t ever find peace with who they are. He forgave his parents and himself for what he was, but it’s questionable whether or not he came to terms with it at all. Julian never truly got to find joy in who he was. From the time he was exposed, he was dealt a wounding blow that never had the opportunity to fade or go away. Julian was doomed to endure that burden forever.

I am a survivor of violence administered by my alcoholic, abusive father who hated my neurodivergency when he was alive. He also told my brother that I wasn't worth loving because of it. To be hated and treated with violence over such differences does leave a lasting impact, and adds to the trauma that can come with being a neurodivergent person simply because of how others react.  I always worry about being exposed as neurodivergent to strangers because of the stigmas attached to it. I've had to learn to not take responsibility for problems that are not mine, including how people react to me being a neurodivergent individual. I've got a ways to go before I am fully comfortable with myself, though.

In my constant journey to overcome the trauma of the past, I gleaned some very helpful advice from Alexander Siddig and Nana Visitor when I got to spend time with them at a virtual event in October 2020. Alexander Siddig’s advice was, "Be yourself and be okay with being yourself. Be kind and compassionate and respectful to yourself." He also talked about establishing boundaries and learning to not care about how people react to differences. There was a point at the event where I got to personally speak with both of them and during that time, I shared about surviving violence that came about because I was born different. It was then that I learned Alexander Siddig had a great ability to listen thoughtfully and I saw nothing but compassion in his entire facial expression as I shared my past. Nana also made a point of gently, but firmly telling me that I needed to grant unto myself forgiveness and self-compassion while showing the same compassion in her expression. She said that what I’ve endured was completely beyond my control and not my fault.

Not everything is in my control, especially being born with neurodivergent tendencies, and I need to truly embrace who I am. My difficulties do not have to be burdens and Star Trek shows that it is very possible to make burdens into beautiful blessings. The world of Trek shows that people go through difficult things every day and not everything is within their control, but what they make of life most certainly is. To have faith in my ability to accept myself is definitely in my power too and I need to learn to accept who I am, as this is not curable. This is who I will be for the rest of my life.

A Timeline Through the Star Trek Universe

Heather Leigh Cameron (she/her) is a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States. She is a freelance writer who also happens to be neurodivergent and has a passion for writing, acting, video-making, playing clarinet, and cooking.

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