VULCAN: Cultural Index 2.0

Star Trek's most famous race, arguably the most famous in Science Fiction. It has seen the origin for many geniuses and stellar Starfleet personnel and one of the original founding four members of the United Federation of Planets.
Live long and prosper, and let's take a look at the Vulcans.

The Vulcans have already had one index, but as that was literally the first one, I think I can now do better.

This is the Cultural Index a series aimed at exploring various Science-Fiction species.
For outsiders to a series to get to know the basics and maybe even hardened Sci-fi nuts might discover something new.
Thanks for watching!

How to VOTE on what happens next:
Over on the Community tab there will be a voting option for one of the two species next up on the Index!

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Cultural Index Series:

Star Trek Online developed by Cryptic Studios and Perfect World.
Star Trek, Star Trek Enterprise/Voyager/Deep Space Nine/Discovery/Picard and The Next Generation are all owned and distributed by CBS.
Star Trek Films are owned and distributed by Paramount Pictures
This Video is for critical purposes with commentary.

[MahsaKaerra]

I think it's a neat idea that the Vulcans are actually, at the core of their being, more emotional than any other species in Star Trek.

[LosoaII]

Ever considered doing an index for humans? I'm always interested in how the other races thinks of them in Star Trek's universe.

[jm]

Its a good thing that Vulcan suppressed their aggressive tendencies because the 1st contact could have been a invasion force rather then a peace force.

[thesinfultictac]

I love the Vulcans for their contradictions it's very nuanced

[AllenLinnenJr]

Vulcans = Space High Elves
Romulans = Space Dark Elves

[marshallhuffer]

Finding a balance between logic and emotion sounds like something to strive for.

[michael]

Vulcans are like cats.Desert creatures. Calm, detached but can instantly turn viscous, violent. Amazingly strong and adaptable but happy in their own company but able to bond with humans.

[QuarkGamingLLC]

I have something to say about Vulcan blood.

Though most animals on earth have red blood, some have blue. The blue color is caused by the iron being replaced with copper.

The Vulcans, however, have green blood. Some animals on earth also have green blood that has something similar sounding to chlorophyll replacing the iron. Since Vulcan is a hot and sunny-ass planet, it’d make sense for most life on the planet to make use of the extra sun, maybe by having everything performing photosynthesis to a degree.

That’s just my theory to rectify a scientific inaccuracy. I’m most likely wrong but so was whoever decided the green blood thing.

[kayleighbrown]

Weird to think that a time that was once considered so far in the away that a futuristic sci fi show used it as a setting, is now a mere 43 years away.

[beckoning-chasm]

Well done! There was an article some years back (an "interview" with Spock) in which he described a great deal of Vulcan culture. One thing I remember was that there was a form of recreation in which a Vulcan had to walk out into the desert, being mindful of every step and all the details...he then had to find his way back, using the exact same steps, in the pitch darkness.

[DissociatedWomenIncorporated]

“I _hate_ sand. It’s course, and rough, and irritating, and it gets _everywhere.”_
— Surak of Vulcan

[keithtorgersen]

Despite Vulcans suppressing their emotions they still express strong emotional attachment to valued family and friends. Spock to Kirk, Tuvok to Janeway, etc. And in the Field of Fire episode the Vulcan Lieutenant became psychotic because everyone he cared about was killed.

[KingOfMadCows]

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.

[DrLeroyGreen]

However, if a Vulcan were to fake emotion, they would be
considered textbook psychopaths.

[jeskerjames]

I think a good way to understand the relationship a Vulcan has to emotions is basically this: They are in complete control of their emotions, rather than their emotions being in control of them. They have emotion, but they don't allow the emotions to do the thinking. Logic guides the heart, rather than letting the heart run wild.

Tuvok clearly cares for Janeway and Spock clearly cares for Kirk. But they would never let these emotions override their higher thinking. Their logic keeps their feelings in their proper place.

Humans, we often times let our emotions guide our actions. But see I think that's why humans and Vulcans work so well together. They're two sides of the same coin. Vulcans are guided by logic, where as humans are more so guided by emotion. When the two work together, they can find the proper balance and end up with better solutions than either race could achieve on their own. It's fortune then that Vulcans were the first species humans made contact with, and this balanced relationship is probably one reason why the federation ended up become such a success.

[MusicByRón]

When humans turn Earth into Vulcan, we’ll basically go down the same path.

[paulgrattan]

Vulcans seem very private when it comes to their age. They always seem to want to dodge or deflect the question.

[MrBigCookieCrumble]

_"It's life Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it._
_It's life Jim, but not as we know, not as we know it, captain."_ - Spöck

[jeffhallam]

We love your videos! Bless you! Yes I got the joke. Forge....

[monkeymox]

What I love about the Vulcans is that they show how spirituality and ritual aren't necessarily 'illogical', since they can be means to an end. If they're the best way of achieving those ends, then these practices are, by definition, logical. We know as a matter of psychological fact that ritual practices are a great way of focusing the mind, help to make life more structured, and can help us to achieve a state of calm. They can also be used to help to create social cohesion (as in Confucian philosophy). Similarly with spirituality, if spirituality is defined in a loose non-supernatural sense. Meditation, again, is something we know has many psychological benefits, and the benefits of these practices to a people like the Vulcans are obvious.