
"Kahless has been dead for a thousand years, but the idea of Kahless is still alive. Have you ever fought an idea, Picard? It has no weapon to destroy, no body to kill."
– Gowron, 2369 ("Rightful Heir")

An idea was an intangible thought, opinion, or concept developed in the mind.

Individuals attempting to solve a problem would often pool their problem solving skills, asking for and offering ideas or suggestions. (TOS: "The Empath", "The Immunity Syndrome", "Who Mourns for Adonais?"; TAS: "The Eye of the Beholder")

Ideas and beliefs

The understanding that there were certain universal ideas and concepts common to all intelligent life was the basis for the universal translator. (TOS: "Metamorphosis")

Vanna, commenting on the hazardous effects of zenite gas, was surprised "that something which is neither seen nor felt can do so much harm." Captain James T. Kirk noted, "That's true. But an idea can't be seen or felt. That's what's kept the Troglytes in the mines all these centuries, a mistaken idea." (TOS: "The Cloud Minders")

Ideas as dangers

Ideas among even disbelieving audiences were considered to metaphorically spread quickly. In 2369, Klingon Chancellor Gowron was confident a clone of Kahless was a fake orchestrated by Koroth, but knew the idea that Kahless the Unforgettable had returned had to be stopped quickly or it would spread chaotically throughout the Klingon Empire. (TNG: "Rightful Heir")

Individuals and organizations often worked to prevent ideas they considered dangerous from spreading within their populations, such as the Kelvan belief of strange Human ideas. (TOS: "By Any Other Name")

External link
