neutralnoci

Neutralnoci is a neologism used in ethics, cognitive science, and speculative discourse to refer to a stance or principle concerning nociceptive information and harm. The coinage appears to combine 'neutral' with 'noci' from nociception, the neural encoding of potentially harmful stimuli, to signal a position that treats signals of harm in a measured or non-primed way rather than automatically prioritizing avoidance.

Because neutralnoci is not widely standardized, its exact meaning varies by context. In ethical discussions, it can denote a policy of moral neutrality toward pain-related information unless a broader welfare assessment is triggered. In neuroscience or artificial intelligence, it has been used as a thought experiment or design principle to decouple nociceptive input from affective processing, thereby preventing reflexive aversion or biased decision-making.

Usage remains informal and largely speculative; the term is rarely found in peer-reviewed sources and is more common in online forums, speculative fiction, or conceptual papers that explore pain, welfare, and decision making. When used, authors typically specify a precise definition, scope, and implications to avoid ambiguity.

Ongoing debates focus on whether any form of moral or practical neutrality toward pain signals is desirable, and how such neutrality would interact with welfare considerations, animal ethics, and AI safety.