I had an interesting thought: The Solomani Confederation is generally seen as a less enlightened society than the Third Imperium, largely due to the pervasive and odious ideology of Solomani superiority.
But on at least one point, the Confederation might actually be much more progressive than the Imperium.
T5 makes a helpful distinction between robots, synthetics, and clones. Robots are clearly unliving, inorganic constructs and thus ineligible for Imperial citizenship, though they might qualify for limited Confederation citizenship. Clones are living, organic sophonts and eligible for citizenship in either polity.
Synthetics are artificial beings "blending organic (living) and mechanical (non-living) elements. Synthetic refers to the general class of created beings between natural and robotic" (T5 p. 92). Blade Runner replicants, rebooted Westworld hosts and rebooted Battlestar Gallactica cylons are all very close in concept to T5 synthetics. (Roger Moore's article on "Androids in Traveller" from White Dwarf 30 is also very close.)
Androids are a specific type of synthetic made in the image of a human. If patterned after a Solomani, an android qualifies for Confederation citizenship. But are they really living? As described in T5, sophontoids cannot reproduce or be cloned, and are only semi-organic. Which suggests to me they might very well be ineligible for Imperial citizenship.
Imagine, if you will, an underground railroad that smuggles Imperial androids, little more than slaves to the Megacorps, into the Solomani Confederation where they can finally be free. Really turns a lot of common conceptions on their heads.
But on at least one point, the Confederation might actually be much more progressive than the Imperium.
In the 17th year of the Imperium, Cleon Zhunastu declared, "Any sentient life form within the Imperial borders, regardless of its origin, is a protected being, and thus a citizen of the Third Imperium." Cleon went on to say that robots are not citizens of the lmperium. "One may argue that an intelligent robot might be sentient," stated Cleon,"but it is definitely not a life form." In taking this stand, Cleon clearly sided with the industrial interests in the lmperium by declaring robots to be property, not citizens.
Imperial Encyclopedia, p. 36.
Androids are accepted as Confederation citizens if their mentality originates from a Solomani model. This view is not accepted by many member-states, who refuse to grant local citizenship.
Robots that do not conclusively exhibit artificial intelligence are treated as tools or machines. They have no rights or political status.
Computers and robots that do demonstrate self-awareness and Al capabilities are eligible for limited citizenship and status. Many legal proceedings have taken place where attempts have been made to prove the sentience of a man-made construct. Very few machines in our history have been able to pass this rigorous Turing-Ogunro test, however; many of those that have are almost legendary.
Solomani and Aslan - The Spinward Races p. 17
T5 makes a helpful distinction between robots, synthetics, and clones. Robots are clearly unliving, inorganic constructs and thus ineligible for Imperial citizenship, though they might qualify for limited Confederation citizenship. Clones are living, organic sophonts and eligible for citizenship in either polity.
Synthetics are artificial beings "blending organic (living) and mechanical (non-living) elements. Synthetic refers to the general class of created beings between natural and robotic" (T5 p. 92). Blade Runner replicants, rebooted Westworld hosts and rebooted Battlestar Gallactica cylons are all very close in concept to T5 synthetics. (Roger Moore's article on "Androids in Traveller" from White Dwarf 30 is also very close.)
Androids are a specific type of synthetic made in the image of a human. If patterned after a Solomani, an android qualifies for Confederation citizenship. But are they really living? As described in T5, sophontoids cannot reproduce or be cloned, and are only semi-organic. Which suggests to me they might very well be ineligible for Imperial citizenship.
Imagine, if you will, an underground railroad that smuggles Imperial androids, little more than slaves to the Megacorps, into the Solomani Confederation where they can finally be free. Really turns a lot of common conceptions on their heads.
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