Christopher Nolan by Robbie B. H. Goh

Author:Robbie B. H. Goh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

FIGURE 7 Professor Brand’s anguished confession of his lie on his deathbed. Interstellar (2014), directed and written by Christopher Nolan. USA: Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, Legendary Entertainment, Syncopy, Lynda Obst Productions.

He dies quoting a phrase (‘do not go gentle’) from his favourite lines from Dylan Thomas’ poem, which could be interpreted as a regret at his ‘gently’ accepting the destruction of the earth-bound human race rather than fighting for its survival (as Murphy and Cooper do). Professor Brand’s actions reveal some of the problems of the ends-justification morality: firstly, ends-analysis depends on one’s available data, and the interpretation of that data. Since the Professor’s data is flawed (by the lack of data on the wormhole), so too is his analysis that there is no way to solve the payload equation and save the earthbound human race. The film makes this clear, by showing the happy consequences of a successful plan A after the Professor’s death.

Secondly, ends-justification does not justify any means whatsoever to that end; it merely rationalizes the end as an important part of the moral calculus – but the means still have to be included in that moral reasoning. The pioneers of Utilitarian morality vehemently reject the idea that immoral means could serve moral ends. Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments maintained that, while positive affection and altruism were not necessary for social order and benefit to obtain, what was required was a sense of ‘justice’, that one’s behaviour would be acceptable to the hypothetical ‘impartial spectator’ (Smith 1759: 182, 189). Professor Brand’s actions of lying to Coop and everyone else would not pass Smith’s test of the individual being able to ‘look mankind in the face’ after pursuing a particular course of action (Smith 1759: 182), as the Professor’s own evident shame at his deathbed confession suggests. J. S. Mill likewise distinguishes Utilitarian morality from cynical ‘expediency’ and insists that Utilitarianism has ‘all the sanctions which belong to any other system of morals’ (Mill 1910: 25). Like Smith, Mill believes that social ties and processes – ‘the social feelings of mankind; the desire to be in unity with our fellow creatures’ (Mill 1910: 29) – not only ensure the most beneficial ends, but also that the means to those ends are consistent with harmonious social relations. Both Smith and Mill would have found abhorrent Professor Brand’s actions which alienated his fellow man – the NASA researchers he occupies on a false project, the Endurance crew that he sends out on a false premise, the lying he does to even those close to him like his daughter Brand and his surrogate daughter Murphy.

This moral lapse is reinforced by Nolan’s familiar technique of doubling. Professor Brand’s double is Mann, the only major character who knows that the Professor’s Plan A is a lie. Mann is the Professor’s vehement moral apologist, arguing that the latter’s lie was an ‘incredible sacrifice’ that was the only way to ‘save the species’. In the same way, Mann and the other eleven explorers are also

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