Prominent American author and legal scholar Cass Sunstein frequently uses cultural and societal parallels to support his arguments about human nature and judgment. One of his observations was a comparison between the first "Star Trek" series and its follow-up, "The Next Generation."

Sunstein's analogy is a metaphor for assessing advancement and change in any field and is not limited to television programs. Similar to how fans frequently harbor nostalgia for the original "Star Trek," there are numerous instances in which people favor the original over later developments, even when those later iterations offer fresh concepts or advancements.

According to him, the original series' groundbreaking nature and pioneering spirit may have evoked strong emotional connections and made it seem more lovable, but its successor can still be highly valued. "The Next Generation" is smarter in terms of intellectual content and narrative complexity because it introduces sophisticated technology, philosophical depth, and a wider range of storytelling.

The trade-offs between innovation and familiarity are emphasized by Sunstein's metaphor. Similar to how audiences may at first find Captain Kirk's adventures uninteresting and straightforward when they first watch "The Next Generation," people frequently oppose changes that appear to depart from a cherished custom. However, if we are willing to give them the chance, new concepts and innovations in other fields can offer distinctive value, just as "The Next Generation" can be enjoyed for its own merits once one puts aside initial reservations.

In the end, Sunstein's analogy promotes an accepting attitude toward change by serving as a reminder that, although it's normal to value the past, adopting new ideas can result in important breakthroughs. Other fields can gain from deliberate evolution rather than clinging only to the past, just as "The Next Generation" added new dimensions and ideas to the legacy of its predecessor.