View source for Lavos (Sentience of)

==Inquiry==

Is [[Lavos]] sentient?

==Answer==

Another question often raised is whether Lavos is truly sentient and intelligent, or is merely an instinctual animal. The main basis of this argument is that Lavos has no dialogue or never displays any cognitive reasoning in the games. The only two references to its mental capacities occur in Trigger and Cross; Queen Zeal mentions that Lavos's reign is an eternal nightmare, while later Schala is explained as being corrupted by the raw hatred and anguish of the Time Devourer she was bound to at the Darkness Beyond Time. Under the idea of no sentience, Lavos's temporal disruptions would be explained as merely a behavioral byproduct. The main aspect of the creature suggesting sentience, conversely, is the manipulation and dissemination of millions of years worth of DNA, and also the subtle control of evolution on the planet. While in an infinite universe, it may fall within an extreme realm of possibility for a being such as Lavos to evolve, become cognizant of space, DNA, and magic without ever attaining sentience, and also effect plans that increase its evolution through self eugenics, this likelihood is remote. Furthermore, in Chrono Cross, the Time Devourer wants to devour the space-time continuum out of a pure desire for revenge, a higher emotion. The Frozen Flame also displays sentience, as it communicates to characters on Terra Tower in Chrono Cross the Time Devourer's discouraging and enmitous thoughts.

In any event, Lavos simply may not communicate to the party due to its intelligence existing on a higher magnitude. In the Ethics of Lavos article, it is speculated that Lavos is not committing evil in killing humans, because they are essentially bacteria to the space creature. The Frozen Flame is also established as the only communicable link with Lavos in Chrono Cross, and does perform that function within the game. However, it should be noted that Queen Zeal also was able to form some type of bond with the being in Chrono Trigger; this evidence can be used for either side of the argument: she might have been appeasing a savage beast with the treat of magic, or might have truly conspired intelligently with the creature to devour more energy or DNA from the planet and its life.

The implications of Lavos's sentience are also discussed in [[The Ethics of Lavos]]. 

''From'': [[Common Questions]]