“Pluribus” pits a romantasy author played by Rhea Seehorn against an existential threat to humanity. Apple Spoiler alert: This story contains details about the first five episodes of “Pluribus.” In “Pluribus,” Apple TV’s new hit science fiction show, the apocalypse seems downright cheery. After humanity receives a signal from outer space, they accidentally manufacture an alien virus that infects the world and turns almost everyone into part of a peaceful hive mind. The content collective consciousness seemingly has only one goal: tend to the needs of the few unaffected people on the planet. For one of those people, author Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), that might be even worse than all the death and destruction that came with the birth of the hive mind. Related: With ‘Stranger Things,’ Netflix turned Hollywood upside down. Now it’s just more of the same Take away all the mystery, drama and dark humor from “Pluribus” and at its core is the kind of ethical dilemma that defines the best sci-fi stories. Is Carol, and humanity, better off joining the collective or stubbornly clinging to her individuality? It’s a complex question without an easy answer and not the only one posed in the show. To understand more about the ethics of “Pluribus” and what has drawn such huge interest, Northeastern Global News sat down with John Basl , an associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern University. “For me, when I’m thinking about all the different questions [‘Pluribus’] is asking, it’s about how do we navigate very difficult tradeoffs for which we don’t have any answers?” Basl said. “How do we think about the different dimensions of ethics when we’re trying to navigate big and small choices?” “All the philosophical challenges that arise in the show are our fault,” said John Basl, an associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern University. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University Although Carol is the protagonist, the show’s writers poke and prod at her worldview in ways that complicate the assumption that she is right about wanting to return the world to the way it was before the virus. “There’s no doubt that when the world gets taken over by zombies, that you don’t want to turn into a zombie,” “Pluribus” creator Vince Gilligan said in a video released by Apple. “But in this show, with what happens, I hope you kind of ask yourself, ‘Maybe this isn’t so bad.’ I think everybody is going to have their own opinion. To me, that’s the best part.” Despite the complex ethical questions “Pluribus” poses, Basl is resolute on one piece of the philosophical puzzle. “Everyone who has become part of the collective has died,” Basl said. “The thing that they become might have a better overall life. It might be good for me to be radically cognitively different than I am … but it won’t be me.” Northeastern Global News, in your inbox. Sign up for NGN’s daily newsletter for news, discovery and analysis from around the world. Name: Source: https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/12/03/pluribus-ethics-philosophy/