Functionism

Functionism is a belief system and social structure where a Cybertronian's role in society is defined by their alternate mode. Construction vehicles are required to engage in manual labor employment, for instance, while a proton microscope would be allowed to seek out intellectual pursuits. A generic but sturdy truck alt-mode, like Orion Pax, would be seen to have multiple potential uses and therefore open multiple doors in society for him. Originally envisioned by Nova Prime as an orderly alternative to the wars preceding his rulership, functionism apparently reached an apex during the reign of Nominus Prime.

Functionists often have a religious underlining to their beliefs, accepting that a forged alt-mode is the will of Adaptus, the Guiding Hand's god of forms and contemporary of Primus Lifegiver himself.

Functionism divides and classifies Cybertronians according to the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy, which ranks individuals based on the ubiquity or rarity of their alternate modes. Under a practice known as ratioism, higher social standings are provided for those with less common forms, and vice versa. The most common alternate modes, such as memory sticks and laser pointers, were lumped together under the disposable class, who were harshly discriminated against. Beast transformers were treated only moderately better.

The specifics of functionism were determined by a Functionist Council, though by the present day both the Council and the social structure it upheld are long gone.