star trek - How honorably are Klingon scientists viewed by Klingon society?

Scientists are essential to the Klingon culture; without them they would not have been able to become the space-faring empire they are. Yet, with a culture based strongly on battle-honor, how honorable are Klingon scientists in the view of Klingon society?

Answer

In Enterprise: Judgement, we learn that the Klingon Empire has been in very serious (intellectual) decline for generations, culminating in the present day where adolescent Klingons view science, engineering, teachering and lawyering as professions to be avoided due to a perception that honour can only be earned through warfare:

ARCHER: There are other classes?

KOLOS: You didn't believe all Klingons were soldiers?

ARCHER: I guess I did.

KOLOS: My father was a teacher. My mother, a biologist at the university. They encouraged me to take up the law. Now all young people want to do is take up weapons as soon as they can hold them. They're told there's honour in victory, any victory. What honour is there in a victory over a weaker opponent? Had Duras destroyed that ship he would have been lauded as a hero of the Empire for murdering helpless refugees. We were a great society not so long ago, when honour was earned through integrity and acts of true courage, not senseless bloodshed.

This attitude remains prevalent centuries later. According to Beverly Crusher in TNG: Suspicions, her impression is that Klingon scientists are still seen in a poor light:

BEVERLY : Kurak was a warp field specialist on the Klingon Homeworld. I don't think Klingons regard scientists very highly... she always seemed a little defensive.

Comments

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