Difference between revisions of "Sophont"

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'''SOPHONT''': A generalized term for an intelligent [[lifeform]] and technology-using being ['''N'''ative '''I'''ntelligent '''L'''ife ([[NIL]])] or [[Sapient]], including humans as well as intelligent aliens, that have a significant presence within [[Charted Space]].
 
'''SOPHONT''': A generalized term for an intelligent [[lifeform]] and technology-using being ['''N'''ative '''I'''ntelligent '''L'''ife ([[NIL]])] or [[Sapient]], including humans as well as intelligent aliens, that have a significant presence within [[Charted Space]].
 
* The number of [[sophont]]s which have been contacted is quite high; the Imperium boasts more than a hundred; [[Charted Space]] boasts more than four hundred.
 
* The number of [[sophont]]s which have been contacted is quite high; the Imperium boasts more than a hundred; [[Charted Space]] boasts more than four hundred.
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* '''Please see''': [[Sapient]], [[Sentient]], [[Major Race]], [[:Category:Minor Race|Minor Race]], and
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* [[Sapient]]  
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* [[Sentient]]  
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* [[Major Race]]  
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* [[:Category:Minor Race|Minor Race]]  
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=== Related Terms ===
 
=== Related Terms ===

Revision as of 14:11, 26 December 2016

SOPHONT: A generalized term for 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.

  • The number of sophonts which have been contacted is quite high; the Imperium boasts more than a hundred; Charted Space boasts more than four hundred.

Related Terms

A person who studies sophonts is known as a Sophontologist.

Etymology

Derived from the Terran Greek word Sophia, meaning wisdom.

Description (Specifications)

A Sophont is a member of a species (race) generally recognized as sapient that has achieved a presence on an interstellar scale.

  • Sophonts are consistently described with a long name in the format “the [race name] of [homeworld]”. For example, the Llellewyoly of Junidy.

History & Background (Dossier)

Remarks: Any intelligent species. Sophont is preferred to Sapient, although the two terms are roughly synonymous. The IISS assumes a vague hierarchy in which sapient is inferior to sophont (roughly, sapients as a species have not left their homeworld, and sophonts are present in interstellar society). Sentient technically means “feeling” and should not be used to describe an intelligent species. Sophont encompasses all intelligent species. The study of sophonts or intelligent life forms is sophontology; some older IISS materials used xenology, or even xenoanthropology, but sophontology is preferred.

Cycle of Life & Civilization

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

Sophont Species Listing

Please see the following AAB article for a list of known sophont species: Races/summary.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
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