individuoj

Individuo, plural individuoj, is a term used in Esperanto to denote a single unit regarded as distinct from others. It can refer to a person, but also to a single organism, object, or data unit, depending on context. The word derives from the Latin individuus meaning indivisible, and entered Esperanto as individuo with the plural form individuoj.

In philosophy, individuo is used to discuss the nature of individuality, personal identity, and what constitutes a separate entity. In biology and ecology, an individuo is a single living being or organism. In the social sciences and statistics, it designates a single unit of analysis within a population, such as a person or other discrete subject surveyed or studied.

In law and ethics, the term is often used where the emphasis is on a discrete actor rather than a class or aggregate. While legal texts most commonly use persono or civita persono to denote a rights-bearing agent, individuo appears when the discussion centers on the unit itself rather than its status under law.

Usage notes: individuoj are counted, compared, or described as separate units in research, experiments, and ethnographic work. The concept helps distinguish between analyses of individuals and those at the level of groups, species, or categories.

See also: persono, homo, specio, grupo, populacio.