Beingsobjects

Beingsobjects is a neologism in speculative ontology used to describe entities that occupy a dual role as beings (agents, subjects) and objects (instruments, material constituents) within a single ontological category. The term draws attention to the porous boundary between subject and object in interconnected systems and to how agency and materiality can co-appear in a single entity.

Origin and usage: The coinage appears in contemporary philosophy and digital humanities discussions concerned with the limitations of a strict subject–object dichotomy. It intersects with debates in object-oriented ontology and actor-network theory by focusing on relational causation rather than fixed typologies.

Concept and characteristics: Beingsobjects are understood as relational and processual. They are defined by their function within a network rather than by intrinsic, isolated properties. They may exhibit agency in how they affect other entities while also being shaped by those interactions. This perspective supports analyses of hybrid entities that mediate action, such as intelligent artifacts, ecologies of devices, or social actors embedded in technical infrastructures.

Examples: Autonomous robots acting as tools and agents; living organisms that mediate human activity; social institutions or norms treated as mediators that both constrain and are shaped by actors; digital avatars with interactive capabilities within networks.

Implications and criticism: The concept encourages relational thinking in AI, design ethics, and media studies, but some critics view it as vague or overlapping with existing frameworks like actor-network theory or agentive realism.

See also: Ontology, Object-oriented ontology, Actor-network theory, Agency, Relational ontology, Mediation.