# The Hard AI hypothesis is correct.
# Mind uploading is viable.
# Sentience can occupy any sufficiently complex physical form, biological or otherwise.
# The transhumanist premise that humans can be raised to a posthuman condition by various means is correct.
# Vernor Vinge's premise of "the Singularity" is correct in that the higher toposophics are only dimly knowable, if at all, by the lower.
# Cognitively, Vinge's Singularity only pertains to the First Singularity (or first toposophic level) in OA.
# The "Singularity" concepts of Vernor Vinge have been adopted, to the extent that there is a critical point of consciousness, beyond which new modes of thought and comprehension are av...

# The Hard AI hypothesis is correct.
# Mind uploading is viable.
# Sentience can occupy any sufficiently complex physical form, biological or otherwise.
# The transhumanist premise that humans can be raised to a posthuman condition by various means is correct.
# Vernor Vinge's premise of "the Singularity" is correct in that the higher toposophics are only dimly knowable, if at all, by the lower.
# Cognitively, Vinge's Singularity only pertains to the First Singularity (or first toposophic level) in OA.
# The "Singularity" concepts of Vernor Vinge have been adopted, to the extent that there is a critical point of consciousness, beyond which new modes of thought and comprehension are available. To those 'below' such a critical point (or 'singularity level'), such new modes of thought are mysterious and incomprehensible. A critical difference is that there is a hierarchy of such critical points within the Orion's Arm scenario.
# Sophonts of one toposophic level can ascend, or potentially descend, to another toposophic level. Either direction of movement may require great effort and/or the support of a being of a higher toposophic level.
# The transhumanist and singulitarian premise of the complete superiority (in terms of technology, intellect, power, etc.) of transingularity/transapient sophonts over sub-singularity (ordinary) sapients is viable, with rare exceptions.
# There are limits to ordinary sapient ingenuity and ability. These limits can only be surpassed by augmenting oneself and/or ascending to the next higher toposophic level. This is not to say that the intelligence and ingenuity of ordinary sapients is negated. Within the scenario the "average" citizen is both physically and mentally more capable than any human alive today. This statement of limits is only an acknowledgement of the superiority of the ascended minds. Transapient beings have their own limitations; some of these limits are observable and comprehensible to ordinary sapient beings and

* There are no "psionics" as traditionally portrayed in science fiction and science fantasy.
* There are Mystical experiences, deep Meditation states, Spiritual Experiences and so on. Whether these are genuine experiences of spiritual transcendence, interesting hallucinations or altered states of consciousness, or something else is up to the individual member to decide, but even archailects are interested in them. For instance, the Sophic league is based on them.
* There are yogic siddhis, extraordinary attainments by martial artists and so on. It is up to the individual to determine if these are simply some physical quirk, something authentic (e.g. ch'i energy as a disti...

* There are no "psionics" as traditionally portrayed in science fiction and science fantasy.
* There are Mystical experiences, deep Meditation states, Spiritual Experiences and so on. Whether these are genuine experiences of spiritual transcendence, interesting hallucinations or altered states of consciousness, or something else is up to the individual member to decide, but even archailects are interested in them. For instance, the Sophic league is based on them.
* There are yogic siddhis, extraordinary attainments by martial artists and so on. It is up to the individual to determine if these are simply some physical quirk, something authentic (e.g. ch'i energy as a distinct reality), cunning use of ultratech, and/or a cleverly designed exercise in memetics.
* There are numerous accounts of paranormal phenomena, forteana, magic, visions, out of body experiences, and the like. It is up the individual to decide if these are genuine, the result of sneaky tech, memetic hoaxes, or a combination of any of these.
* Some transapients are interested in the paranormal, esoteric or mystical. It is up to the individual to decide if these transapients are interested in a genuine phenomenon, are deluded, or are engaging in some sort of memengineering or other intrigues, or any combination.

Common Knowledge

* Concerning sapient-comprehensible knowledge, there is a near limitless amount of information that can be accessed. This includes authentic facts, subtly memegineered information, and rumor.
* The details of transapient and higher sentients, societies, technology, and civilizations, are only dimly known and appreciated (sometimes not even that) by ordinary sapients.
* Translation protocols between different toposophic levels (especially from higher to lower toposophics (e.g. from transapient to sapients) or between clades of very different nature and psychology, are by their very nature imperfect, and this adds to the confusion of what is known by ordina...

Common Knowledge

* Concerning sapient-comprehensible knowledge, there is a near limitless amount of information that can be accessed. This includes authentic facts, subtly memegineered information, and rumor.
* The details of transapient and higher sentients, societies, technology, and civilizations, are only dimly known and appreciated (sometimes not even that) by ordinary sapients.
* Translation protocols between different toposophic levels (especially from higher to lower toposophics (e.g. from transapient to sapients) or between clades of very different nature and psychology, are by their very nature imperfect, and this adds to the confusion of what is known by ordinary sapients.
* Apart form a few trivial and superficial associations and analogies, what archailects think, feel, and even their essence is a mystery to ordinary sapients.
* Most of what is known of transapients and the archai is rumor, the same goes for what is reported from the Wilds, what is known of Hiders and other secretive clades, factions, or civilizations, as well as esotericism and the paranormal, and many other subjects.
* In the Civilized Galaxy and beyond, there is much more rumor than fact. The rumor may or may not be based on authentic fact. Often these things are left ambiguous. This ambiguity and openness to many interpretations is central to the Orion's Arm scenario even though there are also some hard and certain facts.

Adventure and Storytelling

* The sophonts of the Orion's Arm scenario have hopes and desires, loves and hates, ambitions and dreams, just like people today.
* There are no white hats or black hats to distinguish individuals or groups; even the most sadistic villain has some noble and sympathetic qualities, and even the most stainless hero maintains some despicable or cowardly attributes.
* Philosophical disposition does not dictate how straight you can shoot. The "bad guys" can shoot as straight as the "good guys". There are no armies of incompetent token bad guys waiting to be mown down by the hero as he fights his way past them.
* Mysterious clarketech artifacts tha...

Adventure and Storytelling

* The sophonts of the Orion's Arm scenario have hopes and desires, loves and hates, ambitions and dreams, just like people today.
* There are no white hats or black hats to distinguish individuals or groups; even the most sadistic villain has some noble and sympathetic qualities, and even the most stainless hero maintains some despicable or cowardly attributes.
* Philosophical disposition does not dictate how straight you can shoot. The "bad guys" can shoot as straight as the "good guys". There are no armies of incompetent token bad guys waiting to be mown down by the hero as he fights his way past them.
* Mysterious clarketech artifacts that just happen to be available, easily understood or even utilized by modosophonts are extremely rare.