moral status

Definition of moral status

1. : the quality of being something whose interests or wellbeing deserve moral consideration for its own sake, not just because of its usefulness to others

   • Animals have moral status in most ethical traditions; whether AI systems could is now a serious debate.
   • Religious and secular thinkers disagree about what would give an AI moral status.

2. : (moral patient) a being that can be wronged or harmed and so is owed moral consideration, even if it cannot itself be held morally responsible

   • A newborn is a moral patient but not a moral agent.