Personit
Personit is a theoretical construct used in philosophy, cognitive science, and AI ethics to describe the perceived degree of personhood that an observer attributes to an agent. It captures how social recognition, rights, autonomy, and moral considerability are attributed beyond strict biological or legal definitions. The term is not a legal category, but a lens for analyzing when and why people treat others—human or nonhuman—as persons in everyday interaction and institutional decision making.
Etymology and usage: The coinage combines person with a suffix signaling a state or quality. It emerged
Components and measurement: Assessments of personit typically consider cognitive attribution (perceived intelligence or conscious experience), emotional
Applications and relevance: The concept helps analyze policy questions on AI deployment, robot autonomy, companion technologies,
Critique and alternatives: Critics argue that personit risks anthropomorphism and practical ambiguity. Some propose grounding analyses
See also: personhood, moral considerability, agency, social recognition, animal ethics, AI ethics.