Vulcan (species)
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| |
| Vulcan | |
|---|---|
| Classification: | humanoid |
| Planet of Origin: | Vulcan |
| Environmental requirements: | Class M |
| Tech Level: | TBD |
| Warp Year: | TBD |
| Affiliation: | Confederacy of Vulcan |
| Typical lifespan: | 200 years[1] |
| Telepathic abilities: | limited touch-based abilities |
| AIX code: | 25-80-60 |
Vulcans are the native humanoid species of Vulcan. They are widely renowned for their strict adherence to logic and reason, as well as their remarkable stoicism. They are typically citizens of the Confederacy of Vulcan, which is a founding member state of the United Federation of Planets.
History
Physiology
Vulcans are generally similar to Humans in appearance, distinguished mainly by their pointed ears and upswept eyebrows. Their skin color is most commonly pale with a bronze or greenish tint, though some have brown skin. Vulcan physiognomy could resemble Humans of European, Asian, or African descent. Most Vulcans have straight, glossy black hair, though brown and/or curly hair is also possible. Vulcans have body hair similar to Humans, and some males can be very hirsute. Vulcan males are capable of growing facial hair, but most choose to shave it. In contrast to their external similarities, Vulcan internal anatomy differs radically from that of Humans. For instance, their heart is where a Human's liver would normally be and beat several hundred times per minute. Vulcan blood is copper-based and is copper- or rust-colored when de-oxygenated in the veins, green when oxygenated, in the arteries, or when bleeding. Bruises and dermal abrasions take on a greenish color. Vulcans possess a highly efficient respiratory system to extract the oxygen they needed from Vulcan's thin atmosphere. They are most comfortable in high temperatures. A Vulcan of advanced age can become more sensitive to lower temperatures. The digestive tract is highly adaptable. Although alien foods, notably Human food, can occasionally disagree with a Vulcan, given time, their body can adapt to the alien food. Their hearing is very sensitive and females possess a heightened sense of smell. They are, on average, three times physically stronger than Humans, and have considerably faster reflexes.[2]
Culture
Vulcans are generally non-violent, but logic dictated that combat was sometimes necessary. Vulcans could and did use of weapons and practiced martial arts called tal-shaya and suus mahna.
Vulcans consider death to be the completion of a journey. Therefore, they do not fear it happening; however, the loss of one's katra is to be avoided if possible, since the katra lives on beyond the physical death. They also practice euthanasia for the infirm and elderly, and saw nothing wrong with practicing ritual suicide when they reached a certain infirmity with age. As they know death is an inevitability, they believe that fear of death is ultimately illogical.
The government on Vulcan is a representative democracy. Individual political advancement is based on meritocratic principles.
Although Vulcans are highly integrated into the Federation, in the 23rd century some Vulcans viewed service in Star Fleet to be less prestigious than attending the Vulcan Science Academy. In the twilight years of that century, this apparently became much less of an issue.
Vulcans play a logic game known as kal-toh.
Vulcans have a traditional funeral dirge.
Vulcans occasionally give gifts. However, Vulcan custom does not include receiving a gift back from a recipient.
Education
The development of a Vulcan's lifelong devotion towards logic is encouraged at a very early age. Vulcan parents utilize careful and gentle methods to train their infants in primary logic. Vulcan children learn by example how to detach themselves from their emotions. Despite logic being paramount in education, Vulcan children are allowed considerable freedom and enjoy a number of passions their controlled states allow them to coordinate.
As parents, Vulcans never restrict their children from real life. Doing so only hinders their ability to develop their own identity. A Vulcan parent's attachment to their children can not be described as an emotion. They are part of the parent's identity and the parent is incomplete without them.
Children at Vulcan nursery schools dance.
When they are older, they learn in skill domes. The Vulcan Learning Center employs these.
The Vulcan Science Academy and Vulcan Medical Institute are two notable post-secondary institutions.