Person: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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'''Person''' is the [[interpersonal]] term for [[human being]]s. The term '''people''' ([[People|article]]) is the plural of "person," as as such often refers to greater associations of people —ie. [[ethnic groups]], and [[nation]]s. The term '''personhood''' refers to the concept of the individual person, to conceptualize the essential meaning and constituent properties of the ''person'' —ie. ''what does it mean to be "a person."''

A '''person''' is a legal concept both permitting rights to and imposing duties on one by law. In the fields of [[law]], [[philosophy]], [[medicine]], and others, the term has specialised context-specific meanings. In many jurisdictions, for example, a [[corporation]] is considered a [[legal person]] with standing to sue or be sued in court. In philosophy, "person" may apply to any human or non-human actor who is regarded as self-conscious and capable of certain kinds of thought; for example, individuals who have the power to reflect upon and choose their actions.<ref>[[P.F. Strawson|Strawson, P.F.]] 1959. ''Individuals''. London: Methuen: 104; [[John Locke|Locke, John]]. 1961. ''[[Essay Concerning Human Understanding]]''. London:Dent: 280; [http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/2010/01/fellow-champions-dolphins-as-%E2%80%9Cnon-human-persons%E2%80%9D/ Fellow Champions Dolphins as “Non-Human Persons”], Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, January 10, 2010; Midgley, Mary. [http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/midgley01.htm "Persons and non-persons"], in Peter Singer (ed), ''In Defense of Animals''. Basil Blackwell, 1985, pp. 52-62.</ref> This could also extend to late fetuses and neonates, dependent on what level of thought is required.▼

In [[sociology]], '''person''' is an abstract concept, to study individuals as they exist as functioning or non-functioning components within a society. In a [[law|legal context]], a "person" is designated either a "[[citizen]]" or "[[non-citizen]]" and as such the individual person has certain designated [[right]]s and [[responsibilities]] under the law.

▲A '''person''' is a legal concept both permitting rights to and imposing duties on one by law. In the fields of [[law]], [[philosophy]], [[medicine]], and others, the term has specialised context-specific meanings. In many jurisdictions, for example, a [[corporation]] is considered a [[legal person]] with standing to sue or be sued in court. In philosophy, "person" may apply to any human or non-human actor who is regarded as self-conscious and capable of certain kinds of thought; for example, individuals who have the power to reflect upon and choose their actions.<ref>[[P.F. Strawson|Strawson, P.F.]] 1959. ''Individuals''. London: Methuen: 104; [[John Locke|Locke, John]]. 1961. ''[[Essay Concerning Human Understanding]]''. London:Dent: 280; [http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/2010/01/fellow-champions-dolphins-as-%E2%80%9Cnon-human-persons%E2%80%9D/ Fellow Champions Dolphins as “Non-Human Persons”], Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, January 10, 2010; Midgley, Mary. [http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/midgley01.htm "Persons and non-persons"], in Peter Singer (ed), ''In Defense of Animals''. Basil Blackwell, 1985, pp. 52-62.</ref> This could also extend to late fetuses and neonates, dependent on what level of thought is required.

==Who is a person?==