In Star Trek it is the General Order 1 of the Starfleet and an oath every Starfleet Personnel has to take and uphold, even if it means death to them or their crew.
As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its
normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel, Federation citizen and/or representative
may interfere with the
normal and healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a
world whose
society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Starfleet personnel
may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their
ship/installation, unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of
said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.
The Prime Directive is overridden by:
* Omega Directive (Top Secret)
* General Order 24
Furthermore, Federation Citizens are not bound to the Prime Directive.
The Prime Directive is not just a
set of rules; it is a philosophy... and a very correct
one.
History has proven again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well intentioned that interference
may be, the results are invariably disastrous. --Jean-Luc Picard, 2364
Someday my
people are going to come up with some sort of a doctrine, something that tells us what we can and can't do out here; should and shouldn't do. But until somebody tells me that they've drafted that... directive... I'm going to have to remind myself every day that we didn't come out here to play God. --Captain Jonathan Archer, 2151
