Lifeform

Lifeforms are the "non-intelligent" creatures, monsters, and beasts found throughout Charted Space. (i.e. creatures are non-sentient lifeforms)

• This is a sophontigraphic term used in biology and other studies of life.

Description (Specifications)

A lifeform can be any kind of life, conventional or unconventional.

• Exotic life can properly be called lifeforms, but are usually more exactingly known as something else. The term A-life is often used for non-Baryonic lifeforms.

Creatures, Intelligence & Technology

And, by non-intelligent, what is really meant is a non-user of advanced technology. Some creatures are certainly intelligent on the level of animal (creature) cognizance (...or ethology), but not on the level of advanced technology-using sophonts. This is a all a subjective matter of dispute though.

Creatures differ from the minor and major races (...of sophonts) in that they are not fully sentient (i.e. creatures are not sophonts). Some creatures may display some attributes of sentience, but lack enough sentient attributes to be qualified as sophonts. This is also a highly subjective matter, much like the highly disputed definitions of the sophontic Minor and Major Races.

Lifeform Types

• Conventional life
• Unconventional life
• Exotic life

History & Background (Dossier)

No information yet available.

Cycle of Life & Civilization

• A-life → Proto-Life → Creatures → Proto-Sophonts → Sophonts → Ascendants → Transcendents → Singularity

Stages:

1. A-life
2. Proto-Life (transitory stage)
3. Creatures
4. Proto-Sophonts (transitory stage)
5. Sophonts
6. Ascendants (transitory stage)
7. Transcendents
8. Singularity

A-life

A-life is life "not as we known it." These kinds of beings, are mostly conjectured at and do not fit the definitions of conventional or unconventional life. They are exotic in nature. They are often believed to be non-Baryonic in nature and some believe that they come from destinations other then the known universe such as jumpspace.

Creatures

A Creature is any kind of lifeform, animal, plant, mineral, or otherwise that is at an evolutionary stage that does not yet use technology. Creatures are not rated on the Technology Level scale.

Proto-Sophonts

Proto-Sophonts are TL–0 lifeforms possessing advanced intelligence hallmarks and forming sophont cultures and civilizations.

Sophonts

Sophonts are an intelligent lifeform and technology-using being [Native Intelligent Life (NIL)] or Sapient, including humans as well as intelligent aliens, that have a significant presence within Charted Space.

Ascendants

Ascendants live strange lives with even stranger motives. Their technology ahs advanced to a point at which their cultures and civilizations are barely comprehensible to conventional sophonts. Their very existence defies conventional paradigm.

Transcendents

Life that approaches the singularity and a non-technological period of civilization are known as Transcendents. It is rumored that a number of precursor species have become Transcendents. Many believe that the Ancients became Transcendents.

Singularity

The Singularity is a point in the future at which all science, philosophy, and conventional knowledge has lost all meaning. It is a post-technological existence where anything is possible. Some races think of it as the afterlife, while other consider it something entirely different. Whatever it is, it exists outside of the comprehension of TL–15 science as a much-disputed theory.

References & Contributors (Sources)

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• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science