Talk:Sentient
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Notes (2016)[edit]
MWM makes a clear distinction among the following terms (at least in T5):
- A Sentient (= "Sensing") is a life form that is self aware (e.g. an animal).
- A Sapient is an intelligent life form.
- A Sophont is an intelligent life form that has an interstellar presence.
In other words, all Sapients/Sophonts are also Sentient by definition. But while all Sophonts are also Sapients, not all Sapients are Sophonts.
So a TL-0 or TL-1 society of NILs on a world would be considered a Sapient species, but not Sophonts. If that same species eventually developed Jump Drive or a small STL/NAFAL ship polity (or had become members of a starfaring society and had spread out among the stars by that agency), then they would be considered Sophonts.
- --WHULorigan (talk) 11:55, 9 July 2016 (EDT)