Sophont

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.
• Please see: Sapient, Sentient, Major Race, Minor Race, and Races/summary.

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.

Linguistic Etymology

Derived from the Terran Greek word Sophia, meaning wisdom.

Related Terms

A person who studies sophonts is known as a Sophontologist.

• Please see Sophontologist for more information.

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

• 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

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.

• Frank Chadwick, John Harshman, J. Andrew Keith, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. The Traveller Adventure (Game Designers Workshop, 1983), 144.
• Periodical: MegaTraveller Travellers' Digest No. 6 in article: 'Persons and Unpersons: What constitutes Intelligence'
• Novel: Traveller 5th Edition Agent of the Imperium
• External Link: Citations for Sophont
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science