Fundamental Rights for Non-Humans: Foundations, Flaws, and Futures

Author: John Olusegun Adenitire; Raffael Fasel
Publisher: Hart Publishing
ISBN: 9781509985975
Published In: February 2026
Format: Hardback
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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Can animals, artificial intelligences (AI), and nature have fundamental rights? Do they have fundamental rights? And if they do, how do their rights relate to human rights?

In this book, eminent and emerging scholars from fields as varied as legal theory, environmental studies, and philosophy, probe the theoretical foundations, flaws, and future prospects of the growing phenomenon of non-human rights.

Using a dialogical structure, the book consists of matched chapters, with one contributor advancing a view on fundamental rights and another engaging with it. This allows readers to deepen their understanding of the different perspectives offered and to participate in constructive conversations that tease out the promise and pitfalls of each position.

This balanced approach makes the book particularly helpful to scholars and students who are seeking insights into the emerging field of fundamental rights for non-humans. The book also benefits theoretically-minded lawyers, judges, and policymakers who are considering the foundational issues that shape the development of animal rights, AI rights, and rights of nature.

1. Introduction, John Olusegun Adenitire (Queen Mary, University of London, UK) and Raffael Fasel (University of Cambridge, UK)

2. Leveraging Human Rights Law to Advance Rights of Nature, Patricia Wiater-Hellgardt (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)

3. Response: Can Rivers Have Standing? Theoretical Concerns about Rights of Nature, Visa Kurki (University of Helsinki, Finland)

4. Are There Any Animal Rights? John Adenitire (Queen Mary, University of London, UK)

5. Response: From Theory to Practice: On the Development of Animal Rights, Macarena Montes Franceschini (Harvard Law School, USA)

6. Insects, AI Systems, and the Future of Legal Personhood, Jeff Sebo (New York University, USA)

7. Response: Insect Rights as a Part of Rights of Nature, Malgosia Fitzmaurice (Queen Mary, University of London, UK)

8. Rights of Nature: A New Path for Animal Rights, Elien Verniers (University of Ghent, Belgium)

9. Response: Diversity and Universality in Animal Rights Theory: Toward an Anthropology of Animal Rights, Eva Bernet Kempers (University of Antwerp, Belgium)

10. Robot Rights Without Human Frights, Raffael Fasel (University of Cambridge, UK)

11. Response: Thinking Otherwise About the Rights of Others , David Gunkel (Northern Illinois University, USA)