Talk:sentient

Removed definition
"Possessing human-like intelligence."

WRONG! —This unsigned comment was added by 81.103.233.248 (talk • contribs) 2006-07-06 06:53:44.

This response is silly. The use of sentient to meaning possessing a level of intelligence similar to that of humans is attested to in countless works of fiction including Star Trek (see http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Sentience) and the sources cited here http://www.answers.com/topic/sentience-2. In fact, I'd content that this is the most common usage of the term 'sentient' among the general, English-speaking populace. I'm re-adding the earlier definition preceded by "(primarily in Science Fiction)"Rxtreme 05:03, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

Dispute
"Lifeform with the capability to feel sensation, such as pain;"

Agreed.

" thus most beings are sentients."

I highly doubt there are more sentient life forms than non-sentient. Unless the author of the entry is implying that plants, fungi and bacteria are all capable of sensation (in which case said author should clarify what sensations these beings are able of and exemplify a non-sentient being) in my opinion, that bit of the sentence should be removed. {[uinsigned}}


 * Thanks. Not the way people use the word. Not really even a definition. Maybe from a plants-rights activist? DCDuring TALK 11:21, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

sentient vs. sapient
The word Sentient has been used in science fiction to denote self awareness, i.e. in alien lifeforms and artificial intelligence. -But is this perhaps a popular misnomer?

I was convinced sentience implied the ability to feel through senses, whereas the word sapience more accurately described an entity capable of wisdom and/or self awareness. (i.e. Homo Sapiens).


 * Why were you convinced? The word is used in English the way we define it, despite the slightly different meaning of the Latin root. Equinox ◑ 16:32, 5 June 2015 (UTC)