Sapience

**Sapience** is the state of a character's ability to think, reason, and acquire knowledge and information. These characters possess a higher-level form of cognitive function and intelligence. These characters are also self-aware and conscious. This is characteristic that is used to determine the moral agency of a character to determine if they possess clear moral agency or not.

This is not to be confused with sentience that focuses on a character's ability to have feelings and sensation.

## Villainy

For a villain, this is an important trait is used to determine how evil a character can be.

### Pure Evil

Characters who are Pure Evil (Rank 1 -) often stand out as the worst in their respective story because they are capable of thinking through their actions. These characters are aware of reasoning but refuse to listen to the reason of another character who is attempting to talk them out of committing an evil act. These characters have a motive that is based on their own reasoning. Some of these characters who are psychopathic or manipulators can use their reasoning and argumentative skills to manipulate others to their own cause. These characters are fully aware of what they are doing and their impact on others.

These characters may be highly calculating and methodical with their plans. They can also listen to the reasons of another character if they feel they can benefit from it in a pragmatic sense.

### Villains With No Redeeming Qualities

For characters who are Near Pure Evil (Rank 2 -), Inconsistently Heinous (Rank 3 -), and Villainous Benchmark (Rank 4 -) with no redeeming qualities, these characters are capable of being reasoned but they would refuse to listen to others when it comes to not committing evil acts. Some of these characters would stand out for their callous nature and actions.

### Villains With Redeeming Qualities

Unlike those who are Pure Evil, these characters can be reasoned with by another character. These characters may come to the conclusion that their actions were morally wrong and would try to atone for their action or redeem themselves. These characters are aware of how bad their actions and how it has affected others and makes the choice themselves to stop their evil ways.

In addition, these characters would also follow a standard. They would be aware of what actions they would not commit themselves under any circumstances and would express disgust at another character’s actions.

## Heroism

For a hero, this is an important trait is used to determine how admirable a character can be.

### Pure Good

These characters are capable of thinking through their actions and can be reasoned with. These types of heroes are aware of reasoning and stand out for their characteristics. These characters also have clear moral agency.

Pure Good (Rank 1 +) characters are capable of thinking and reasoning with others to try to reach them. In addition, they are also able to reject reasons from a villain or a character who is trying to corrupt them and would reason that their points are wrong and immoral.

### Heroes With No Corrupting Qualities

For characters who are Near Pure Good (Rank 2 +), Inconsistently Admirable (Rank 3 +), and Heroic Benchmark (Rank 4 +) with no corrupting qualities, these characters are capable of being reasoned but they would refuse to listen to others who would corrupt them or corrupt others. Some of these characters would stand out for their heroic actions.

### Heroes With Corrupting Qualities

These characters may find reason to act the way they act such as showing jerk moments or committing actions that are not indicative of a hero. These characters would also find reason to fall from heroism altogether or commit actions that are self-serving or morally dubious.

## Mental Illness

Characters can be sapient and have mental illness. As long as the character demonstrate the ability to understand right from wrong despite their mental illness, they can have moral agency. Exceptions exit for characters who have a notable mental illness that affects their ability to think and reason which would go against them possessing clear moral agency.

## Possessed or Brainwashed

Characters who are possessed or brainwashed by another character would lack self-awareness since they are under the control of an external force.

Some instances would happen where a character is aware they are being possessed or brainwashed but they are not in control of themselves. Under these circumstances, these characters possess sapience even if they are not in control of their bodies due to the external force manipulating them.

## See Also

* Moral Agency
* Sentience