Galactic discussion of Categories

The council chamber of the United Galactic Federation shimmered quietly, filled with representatives from distant stars. At first glance, it looked like a celebration of diversity. But as the conversation unfolded, it became clear: diversity was often misunderstood, and unity, even more so.

The discussion is about Social Structures on each society.

Ambassador Thrax from Earth stood up with a concerned look. He spoke gently, but firmly.

"Dear friends from Galaxy Altitudo," he said, "we have learned that in your society, short people are praised and privileged, while tall individuals are pushed into roles of labor and limitation. You say this is natural. But we worry you are making a dangerous mistake. You are judging a person’s worth by something as simple as height. That is what we fight on earth — reducing a person to one trait, as if that’s all they are."

A tall delegate from Galaxy Altitudo, Ambassador Lyra, stood in response. Her voice was calm but confident.

"You misunderstand us," she said. "On our planet, gravity affects shorter beings differently. They move more easily, conserve energy better, and even think in ways that match our environment. The tall are naturally stronger and suit practical work. Besides, height is measurable clearly. It’s not discrimination. It’s nature doing its work. We just follow what’s efficient."

Just as Earth prepared to reply, a new figure shimmered into view—Ambassador Zephyr from Galaxy Bello. The image of Zephyr, from Galaxy Bello, where there is no distinctions like male or female, changed gently with the holographic light.

"With respect," they began, "your debate is fascinating—but familiar. On Earth, don’t you also divide people by physical features? You call it gender. Some are seen as natural leaders, others as caretakers. Some are told they should be strong, others gentle. Isn’t that the same logic Galaxy Altitudo uses with height? You call it culture. But it might just be another form of bias."

The room grew quiet. The Earth ambassador shifted uncomfortably.

"But gender is based on biology," he said.

Zephyr tilted their head.

"Yes, biology gives us different bodies. But it does not assign us innate destinies. The emotions, jobs, and behaviors you attach to gender are not written in our cells. They are stories you’ve learned to tell. Like Galaxy Altitudo, you too confuse biology with meaning. You see traits and build boxes around them."

Before the room could fully digest that, a new voice joined—a being from Galaxy Centro named Sigma. They were not one shape or one sound, but a living pattern of colors and harmonies.

"Perhaps the problem is deeper still," Sigma said. "Perhaps the real issue is not which category we use—but that we use categories at all for our fellow species."

The room stirred.

"You speak of height. Of gender. Even of galaxies, as if these were solid things. But everything flows. Everything is connected. You fix people into roles, build identities like cages, and forget the deeper truth: no being is one thing. Not fully. Not forever."

Then came another voice—gentler, but heavier. Ambassador Xylar from the Pan-Sentient Coalition. Their skin glowed softly, like a living constellation.

"You’ve all spoken wisely. But there is a further blindness to consider. The biggest category of all: species."

The room froze.

"You argue about how tall or what gender someone is—but you all still separate species like earth do with 'humans' from 'animals', and 'your kind' from 'theirs'. You talk of fairness, but forget your own history. On Earth, you confine and kill trillions of animals yearly—not because they don’t feel pain, they clearly do, but because they’re not 'your species'. You call it natural. You call it food. But it’s a line drawn for convenience, not truth."

Ambassador Thrax looked stunned.

"But animals aren’t the same as us—"

"Are you sure?" Xylar asked gently. "Do they not feel? Do they not bond, grieve, play, and suffer? Does intelligence decide who gets to live? Would you apply that rule to your own species? Would you eat a child who scores low on a test? If you think that animals eat each others for their survival, you have all the technologies and intelligence to not eat them. Why don’t you do it?"

The chamber fell silent.

"You critique others for fixing arbitrary categories," Xylar continued, "but the biggest wall of all—the one between 'us' and 'them'—remains standing. Perhaps true progress means tearing down not just the small fences between groups, but the great barriers between beings. To stop asking what someone is, and start asking what they experience."

For a moment, the chamber held its breath. Perhaps the greatest leap in wisdom wasn’t traveling between galaxies—but learning to see beyond our labels. Beyond height, beyond gender, beyond species.

Is it possible to see the world not as a map of fixed roles and names—but as a flowing, fragile web of life, in which every thread matters?

(Inspired by Philosophy Tube's YouTube Video)