Fundamental Rights for Non-Humans: Foundations, Flaws, and Futures
By (Author) John Olusegun Adenitire
Edited by Raffael Fasel
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Hart Publishing
2nd April 2026
United Kingdom
Professional and Scholarly
Non Fiction
Environmental law
Digital, IT and Communications law
Methods, theory and philosophy of law
Public international law: human rights
Ethics and moral philosophy
Hardback
336
Width 156mm, Height 234mm
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.
John Olusegun Adenitire is Senior Lecturer in Law at Queen Mary University of London, UK.
Raffael Fasel is Assistant Professor-elect in Public Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, UK.