Editing Vulcan
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The '''Vulcans''' (also known as "'''Vulcanians'''") are a [[humanoid]] civilization responsible in a large part for the founding of the [[ | The '''Vulcans''' (also known as "'''Vulcanians'''") are a [[humanoid]] civilization responsible in a large part for the founding of the [[United Federation of Planets]] and are widely known for their logical minds and stoical natures. The Vulcan [[homeworld]] is the planet [[Vulcan (planet)|Vulcan]]. | ||
==History and Politics== | ==History and Politics== | ||
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
Culturally one of the most fascinating species in the [[Beta Quadrant]], the Vulcans were once an extremely violent and emotional people who waged almost constant warfare on one another. They believed in a variety of gods, such as war, peace and death. As their level of technology improved, the Vulcans eventually reached a point where their violent nature threatened species extinction. In an effort to avoid this fate, a Vulcan named [[Surak]] developed a new philosophy thereby igniting the [[Time of Awakening]]; Surak maintained that the root cause of all the problems on Vulcan lay in the uncontrolled outpouring of the people's emotions. His followers swore to live their lives by an ethical system devised by Surak and based purely on logical principles. All expression of emotions, negative or positive, was completely forbidden. Although this new philosophy spread rapidly across Vulcan, a minority rejected Surak's ideals. A destructive war began including the use of [[atomic bomb]]s and among the victims was Surak himself. Eventually, however, those who opposed logic left Vulcan and founded colonies elsewhere - most notably on the planet [[Romulus]], where they founded what eventually became the [[Romulan Star Empire]]. | Culturally one of the most fascinating species in the [[Beta Quadrant]], the Vulcans were once an extremely violent and emotional people who waged almost constant warfare on one another. They believed in a variety of gods, such as war, peace and death. As their level of technology improved, the Vulcans eventually reached a point where their violent nature threatened species extinction. In an effort to avoid this fate, a Vulcan named [[Surak]] developed a new philosophy thereby igniting the [[Time of Awakening]]; Surak maintained that the root cause of all the problems on Vulcan lay in the uncontrolled outpouring of the people's emotions. His followers swore to live their lives by an ethical system devised by Surak and based purely on logical principles. All expression of emotions, negative or positive, was completely forbidden. Although this new philosophy spread rapidly across Vulcan, a minority rejected Surak's ideals. A destructive war began including the use of [[atomic bomb]]s and among the victims was Surak himself. Eventually, however, those who opposed logic left Vulcan and founded colonies elsewhere - most notably on the planet [[Romulus]], where they founded what eventually became the [[Romulan Star Empire]]. | ||
The Vulcans were one of the first of the current powers to develop [[ | The Vulcans were one of the first of the current powers to develop [[warp drive]], though a century would pass between the first warp flight and the breaking of the Warp 2 barrier. The Vulcans conducted a series of survey missions to the [[Sol system]], as early as [[1957]]. The official [[first contact]] between Vulcans and [[Human]]s came on April 5, [[2063]] when a Vulcan survey ship detected the warp flight of [[Zefram Cochrane]]'s ''[[Phoenix]]''. The Vulcans met with Cochrane at his launch site on the day following the flight. The Vulcans eventually became Earth's "big brother" in a way, advising Earth officials on how to proceed into the galaxy. The [[Vulcan High Command]] considered humans volatile and similar to Vulcans before the Time of Awakening, and so attempted to slow down humanity's move into the galaxy until the time was right. | ||
[[Quark]], while in 1947 said he intended to give warp technology to the Ferengi so that they would have it before the Vulcans, though numerous other sources suggest the Vulcans had warp drive centuries before that. Most likely Quark was simply unaware of this. The Vulcans might have had warp drive at least a hundred years prior to the [[9th | [[Quark]], while in [[1947]] said he intended to give warp technology to the Ferengi so that they would have it before the Vulcans, though numerous other sources suggest the Vulcans had warp drive centuries before that. Most likely Quark was simply unaware of this. The Vulcans might have had warp drive at least a hundred years prior to the [[Early History|9th century BCE]] when the [[P'Jem]] monastary was built on a planet presumably several light years from Vulcan, however this trip could theoretically have been made using only impulse drives, possibly in sleeper ships. | ||
By the [[21st century|21st]] and [[22nd century|22nd centuries]], the Vulcans would have also had made contact with the [[Cardassian]]s, [[Trill]], [[Tholian]]s, [[Klingon]]s, and scores of other races. | By the [[21st century|21st]] and [[22nd century|22nd centuries]], the Vulcans would have also had made contact with the [[Cardassian]]s, [[Trill]], [[Tholian]]s, [[Klingon]]s, and scores of other races. | ||
Line 58: | Line 58: | ||
Development of a Vulcan's life of logic begins at a young age. Vulcan parents will utilize learning tools, such as ''[[pleenok]]s'', to train their infants in primary logic. Vulcan children will then learn to detach themselves from their emotions at an early age. As parents, Vulcans never shield their children from the truth. Doing so would only hinder their ability to cope with inevitable difficulties. A Vulcan parent's attachment to their children cannot be described as an emotion. They are part of the parent's identity and the parent is incomplete without them. | Development of a Vulcan's life of logic begins at a young age. Vulcan parents will utilize learning tools, such as ''[[pleenok]]s'', to train their infants in primary logic. Vulcan children will then learn to detach themselves from their emotions at an early age. As parents, Vulcans never shield their children from the truth. Doing so would only hinder their ability to cope with inevitable difficulties. A Vulcan parent's attachment to their children cannot be described as an emotion. They are part of the parent's identity and the parent is incomplete without them. | ||
Despite this early training in logic, Vulcan children in nursery school are allowed to dance. These dances are reminiscent of the dances of the Orion slave girl, just not as well coordinated. | Despite this early training in logic, Vulcan children in nursery school are allowed to dance. These dances are reminiscent of the dances of the [[Orion slave girl]], just not as well coordinated. | ||
Vulcans have chosen mates by the age of seven, selected by their parents. The mates are joined in a ceremony that links them telepathically. When the two come of age, the link compels them to follow through with full marital rituals, which cement their relationship. | Vulcans have chosen mates by the age of seven, selected by their parents. The mates are joined in a ceremony that links them telepathically. When the two come of age, the link compels them to follow through with full marital rituals, which cement their relationship. | ||
Line 73: | Line 73: | ||
*For recreation, Vulcans "play" a game known as [[kal-toh]]. | *For recreation, Vulcans "play" a game known as [[kal-toh]]. | ||
*Although there is no indication of a Vulcan [[religion]] ("faith" would be regarded as illogical, except to the half-human [[Spock]]) ("Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country") a ''Vulcan Prayer'' is sometimes offered for the deceased (Such as [[Tuvok]] offered for [[Lon Suder]] in [[VOY]]: "[[Basics, Part II]]"). When asked if Vulcans were a "spiritual" people, T'pol responded that Vulcan beliefs are based on logic and the pursuit of clarity. Others have referred to Vulcan "mysticism", so it seems that, at least to outsiders, Vulcans have something approaching a mystical belief system, but perhaps Vulcans do not consider it to be a religious or spiritual belief system in the sense most other species' use the terms. It would not be beyond reason, though, to suggest that the Vulcan belief system may share similar concepts with the [[Wikipedia:Non-theistic|non-theistic]] human religion of [[Wikipedia:Zen Buddhism|Zen Buddhism]]. Of course, this comparison may be imperfect as the idea of the Vulcan Katra, which some consider analogous to the "soul" concepts found in the after-life doctrines of many other religions, is a notable diversion from the Buddhism analogy. Of course, the true nature of the Katra is known only to Vulcan theologians and those Vulcans who have shed or lost their physical bodies. So, while imperfect, the analogy of Vulcan beliefs to Buddhism stands as the best. | *Although there is no indication of a Vulcan [[religion]] ("faith" would be regarded as illogical, except to the half-human [[Spock]]) ("[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]") a ''Vulcan Prayer'' is sometimes offered for the deceased (Such as [[Tuvok]] offered for [[Lon Suder]] in [[VOY]]: "[[Basics, Part II]]"). When asked if Vulcans were a "spiritual" people, T'pol responded that Vulcan beliefs are based on logic and the pursuit of clarity. Others have referred to Vulcan "mysticism", so it seems that, at least to outsiders, Vulcans have something approaching a mystical belief system, but perhaps Vulcans do not consider it to be a religious or spiritual belief system in the sense most other species' use the terms. It would not be beyond reason, though, to suggest that the Vulcan belief system may share similar concepts with the [[Wikipedia:Non-theistic|non-theistic]] human religion of [[Wikipedia:Zen Buddhism|Zen Buddhism]]. Of course, this comparison may be imperfect as the idea of the Vulcan Katra, which some consider analogous to the "soul" concepts found in the after-life doctrines of many other religions, is a notable diversion from the Buddhism analogy. Of course, the true nature of the Katra is known only to Vulcan theologians and those Vulcans who have shed or lost their physical bodies. So, while imperfect, the analogy of Vulcan beliefs to Buddhism stands as the best. | ||