This is the Daystrom Institute Episode Analysis thread for Lower Decks 4x06 Parth Ferengi's Heart Place.

Now that we’ve had a few days to digest the content of the latest episode, this thread is a place to dig a little deeper.

  • maplealmond@startrek.website
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    In the end a contract is only as valid as the enforcement behind it.

    Between two people of the same nation, a court willing to say "Yeah that's valid" and enforce it with the power of the state makes a contract quite powerful.

    Between two entities that cannot agree on a means to arbitration, or have that means enforced on them, it's basically only as valuable as their willingness to accept it.

    "A contract is a contract is a contract… but only between Ferengi" might seem like a straight up dismissal of another's species rights to be negotiated with, but its also a warning. If the Ferengi authorities don't have the power and will to enforce your contract with a Klingon living in free space, then a contract lacks the enforcement clauses that make it absolute.

    So how binding is it? As binding as the parties allow it to be.