The phrase “sentient” is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, like “SEN-shunt.” It’s an adjective meaning “capable of really feel or understand,” and it’s usually used to explain dwelling beings, corresponding to people and animals.
Sentience is a crucial idea in philosophy and ethics, as it’s the foundation for our skill to expertise pleasure and ache, and to make ethical choices. The idea of sentience can also be necessary within the subject of synthetic intelligence, as researchers work to develop machines which can be able to feeling and experiencing the world round them.
