Concepts/Galatean

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Galatean

In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the sculptor Pygmalion creates a statue named "Galatea" that he finds so beautiful, she magically comes to life.

A Galatean is a sophont created with a specific characterization in mind, choosing aesthetics over function. Galateans often have a fictional or historical model. An object d'art or non-Turing device "uplifted" to self-aware status, especially one that is more artful than functional, is a Galatean.

In TopWarp, the Victorian Retrotech Collective often create Galateans taking after mythological characters or famous works of art. In CharmWarp, Toymakers are masters of galateology, and the Bubble Dolls are their most prevalent competitors.

The true Galatean is one where the aesthetic comes first, then the sophont is created, not the other way around. A sophont who later alters their being to match an aesthetic does not become a Galatean.

Known Galateans


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Last edited July 3, 2005 2:19 am by Echo (diff)
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