# Moral circle expansion

_Mykyta Zagamula; edited with AI assistance · updated 2026-09-13_

_Concept · https://synchronism.top/en/glossary/moral-circle/_

**The process by which moral attention extends to new kinds of beings as grounds appear for regarding them as bearers of experience, interests or autonomy.**

Historically the circle has widened more than once, and each widening looked at first like a category error.

As knowledge grows, new candidates for moral standing may appear: animals, artificial systems, modified humans, digital persons.

Synchronism does not claim that any given candidate deserves standing. It claims that the question should be researched before it becomes practical.

## What is missing here

- **Argument** (Philosopher) — Set out the cost of error in both directions — granting standing where there is none, and withholding it where there is — and what follows for decisions under uncertainty.

## Next

- Idea: What closing gaps is for — https://synchronism.top/en/frame/values/
- Question: When does a moral category stop working? — https://synchronism.top/en/questions/moral-categories/
- Question: Can an AI have moral standing? — https://synchronism.top/en/questions/ai-moral-status/
- Question: Should we create new intelligent beings? — https://synchronism.top/en/questions/creating-minds/
- Concept: Category decomposition — https://synchronism.top/en/glossary/decomposition/

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