Sentience
From Takodana, specifically Takodana Castle, a diverse collection of beings (including a droid) observe the destruction of Hosnian Cataclysm through sub-hyperspace.
Sentience referred to the capacity for self-awareness, complex thought, and advanced reasoning skills. Sentient beings displayed personality traits, experiencing emotions alongside intellectual capabilities. Across the galaxy, there existed tens of thousands of sentient species, with 3PO-series protocol droids programmed to identify upwards of 30,000 distinct species. The total population of individuals throughout the galaxy reached into the trillions. Examples of sentient species include humans, Ewoks, Patitites, Gungans, and Geonosians.
Non-sentient organisms belonging to the animal kingdom were generally called "creatures" or "beasts." There were also creatures that seemed to be developing sentience, such as the Zillo Beast and Purrgil, and these were known as semi-sentient. The soul of the varactyl was believed to be simpler and more pure than that of sentient beings. However, these creatures still possessed their own form of intelligence. Droids could also achieve sentience, although some droids, like 0-0-0 and EV-9D9, enjoyed causing pain to others, similar to some organic beings.
Behavior
Most sentient species lived on land, in areas where abundant rain supported flourishing forests, gardens, and grassy plains; however, numerous species also thrived in arid environments and rocky terrains. Their ability to adapt and survive on these harsher worlds made them more capable of adjusting to off-world conditions. Certain sentient species preferred aquatic environments, inhabiting planets covered in water, yet they could survive in airy environments without needing environmental suits or breathing apparatus.
Sentient rights
The laws of the Galactic Republic prohibited the use of sentient beings as slaves. Despite this, slavery persisted on certain isolated planets, such as Tatooine, and was a lucrative business for groups like the Zygerrians. Droids were typically treated as property and considered inferior to sentient organic lifeforms, and most were programmed to prevent them from harming organic beings, with exceptions such as police droids and battle droids. Despite their programming, mechanical beings could develop unique personality traits and even sentience; however, this was often suppressed through memory wipes, a practice opposed by supporters of droid rights, who argued for sentient rights for droids and cited the Galactic Empire's Galactic Constitution, which stated that all sentients were equal and outlawed slavery and forced servitude. The Second Revelation consisted of sentient droids.
Sentience and the Force
Using his sentience, Darth Sidious was able to manipulate unsuspecting senators within the Galactic Senate, including Jar Jar Binks, to grant him supreme authority. However, through the will of the Force, Sidious was ultimately deposed by the son of the Chosen One, who had been conceived by the midi-chlorians—microscopic organisms that formed a symbiotic relationship with organic beings, allowing them to perceive the will of the Force. These organisms are the basis of all life and connect and sustain the symbiotic relationship between the Living Force—the energy of all living things—and the Cosmic Force, which binds everything together in the galaxy.