Seeing how the Prime Directive should no longer apply, Picard was free to do whatever was necessary in order to save his crewman. However, the advanced technology employed by the aliens forced Picard to argue for the life of Wesley Crusher. His argument centers around the idea that this conflict is over whether or not moral universalism, or moral relativism would apply in the case of Wesley Crusher. Picard argues that the Federation does not interfere with other cultures because they believe that all cultures have equally value and the capacity for development. However, they are dealing with an alien race that is violating that principle. The aliens have decided that their moral universalism is correct for the Edo, and by extension, anyone who visits their planet. But Picard argues, correctly, that each culture must respect the rights of other cultures to develop in their own way. And the Prime Directive would seem to indicate...
They had not developed independently, or naturally, and were the pawns of an advanced alien race. Therefore, Picard was correct not to allow Wesley Crusher to be executed; the Prime Directive did not apply, nor did the rules imposed on the Edo by the aliens. The aliens were violating the rights of the Edo to develop naturally, and the Enterprise, according to the application of moral relativism to the Federation, would have been correct in attempting anything they could to not only help Wesley to escape, but to stop the interference of the Edo by the advanced alien race.
