Transformation and expansion of the concept of personhood in contemporary societies

Keywords

personhood, globalization, irreplaceability

Objectives

The objective of this research project is to shed light on how the concept of personhood transforms and expands through the lens of irreplaceability, and construct a new theory of personhood.
As argued by Marcel Mauss, personhood is a social construction. Therefore, the problem of “who is human” in individual societies is not so self-evident. And rapidly advancing globalization has spurred the transformation and expansion of such local concepts of personhood. Prime examples of this are the deceased being “brought back” with generative AI, long-term cryopreservation of fertilized eggs, and pets buried in the same graves as their owners. Underlying this is the “irreplaceability” of personhood.
This research project will (1) shed light on what “personhood” is in said society, (2) examine through the lens of irreplaceability how this has transformed and expanded in recent years, and then (3) build a new theory of personhood that includes the dynamics of global society. Therefore, we will actively utilize findings from not only cultural anthropology, but also from the adjacent fields of peace studies, bioethics, doll studies, and folklore studies.