characteristicits

Characteristicits is a neologism used in some theoretical and speculative writings to denote the collection of defining traits that identify a system, object, or concept. Proponents describe characteristicits as the core set of properties that remain stable under typical transformations, distinguishing an entity from other entities. By contrast with incidental features, which may vary with context, characteristicits are treated as essential for recognition and comparison.

Etymology and usage: The word blends “characteristic” with a pluralizing suffix, and appears in texts exploring identity, classification, and ontologies. It is not widely standardized and is not part of formal taxonomies in established disciplines; its meaning can vary by author and domain.

Properties and measurement: In practice, identifying characteristicits involves selecting a feature subset that best captures an entity’s identity. Methods borrow from feature selection, invariants, and clustering. In dynamic systems, characteristicits may be defined as invariants over a defined time window, or as a signature that changes slowly relative to other traits.

Applications and examples: In data science, a smartphone’s characteristicits might include hardware features (processor type, sensors), software stack (OS version, app framework), and typical energy profile. In cultural analysis, characteristicits of a tradition might include core rituals, symbols, and languages that endure across communities.

Relation to other concepts and criticism: Characteristicits overlap with essential properties, invariants, and signatures. Critics argue that fixing characteristicits risks oversimplification, ignores contextual factors, and may obscure evolution of entities over time.

See also: Essential property, Invariant, Signature, Feature selection. Note: The term is not standard and usage varies by field.