Personhood

Personhood refers to the status of being a person, encompassing the rights, responsibilities, and moral considerations that come with that status. In ethical, legal, and philosophical discussions, personhood often focuses on what qualities make something deserving of rights or moral consideration, such as consciousness, self-awareness, and the ability to feel pain. The concept is central in debates about issues like abortion, animal rights, and artificial intelligence, as it raises questions about who or what qualifies as a person and what it means to have person-like rights and protections.