mitteinimese

Mitteinimene is an Estonian term that designates a non-human being or entity. It is formed from mitte ('not') and inimene ('human'), and its genitive form is mitteinimese. The word is used in both everyday language and more formal discussion to indicate something that is not human, regardless of whether it possesses sentience, life, or agency.

It is used across disciplines such as philosophy, ethics, and law, as well as in science fiction and speculative discussion, to discuss rights, status, or moral consideration of beings that are not human. Examples include animals, extraterrestrials, artificial intelligences, and other possible non-human agents.

Debates around mitteinimene focus on moral status and personhood: what are the criteria that grant rights or protections? Some ethical theories assign varying degrees of moral consideration based on capacities like sentience, consciousness, or autonomy; others argue that status should depend on social or legal recognition rather than intrinsic nature. The term thus helps frame inclusive or exclusive approaches to rights and responsibilities.

In Estonian-language discourse, mitteinimene is part of broader conversations about animal ethics, AI ethics, and the philosophy of mind. It is not a fixed technical term, but a flexible label used to discuss non-human agency and obligation.