Chimps have feelings and thoughts. They should also have rights

Summary

This compelling speech explores the legal distinction between 'legal things' and 'legal persons,' focusing on the struggle to grant personhood to nonhuman animals. The speaker draws on historical legal precedents, such as the case of James Somerset, and highlights the Nonhuman Rights Project's efforts to secure legal rights for chimpanzees through strategic litigation. Emphasizing the autonomy, cognitive abilities, and moral capacities of chimpanzees, the speaker advocates for a long-term campaign to break down the legal barriers preventing animals from achieving personhood, aiming for equality and justice in the legal system.

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Q & A

What is the main distinction the speaker makes between 'legal things' and 'legal persons'?

The speaker differentiates between 'legal things' (objects or entities without legal rights, such as books, cars, and animals) and 'legal persons' (entities with legal rights, such as human beings and corporations). Legal persons are visible and have legal standing, while legal things are not recognized in law as having rights.

Why are legal things, such as nonhuman animals, invisible in the eyes of the law?

Legal things lack legal rights and the capacity for legal rights. This lack of recognition renders them invisible to the courts, meaning they cannot be defended or represented in legal proceedings as legal persons can.

How does the speaker relate the concept of legal personhood to historical human rights struggles?

The speaker compares the struggle for animal personhood to historical human rights movements, such as the fight for the legal recognition of slaves, women, and children. These groups were once treated as legal things but were eventually granted legal personhood through legal reforms.

What was the significance of the Somerset vs. Stewart case in the context of legal personhood?

The Somerset vs. Stewart case, in which a slave named James Somerset was granted freedom by the court, is used as a key legal precedent. The case demonstrates how a 'legal thing' (the slave) was recognized as a 'legal person' through a writ of habeas corpus, a strategy the speaker uses to argue for nonhuman animals' legal personhood.

What is the Nonhuman Rights Project and how does it work?

The Nonhuman Rights Project, founded by the speaker, is an organization that seeks to grant legal personhood to nonhuman animals. The project uses strategic litigation, expert testimony, and legal arguments to challenge the current legal status of animals as legal things, advocating for their recognition as legal persons.

Why were chimpanzees specifically chosen as plaintiffs for the legal personhood suits?

Chimpanzees were chosen because they share many cognitive and emotional capabilities with humans, such as self-awareness, the ability to engage in complex social behaviors, and moral reasoning. Their similarity to humans in these respects makes them strong candidates for legal personhood.

What cognitive and emotional capabilities of chimpanzees support the argument for their legal personhood?

Chimpanzees have demonstrated advanced cognitive abilities, including self-awareness, mental time travel, understanding of their own and others' minds, and the ability to communicate intentionally. They also show empathy and engage in cooperative and moral behavior, such as making fair offers in economic games.

How does the speaker's personal journey as a lawyer connect to the broader message of the speech?

The speaker's personal experience as an animal protection lawyer highlights their initial frustration with defending animals' rights, as they were considered legal things. Their journey led to the realization that in order to protect animals, they needed to push for the legal recognition of their personhood.

What is the ultimate goal of the Nonhuman Rights Project's litigation campaign?

The ultimate goal is to have nonhuman animals, particularly those with advanced cognitive abilities like chimpanzees, recognized as legal persons with rights and protections. The project aims to shift the legal framework to include animals in the same way that humans have gained legal personhood over time.

How does the speaker view the long-term nature of their campaign for animal personhood?

The speaker acknowledges that the campaign is a long-term effort that will take decades to succeed. They compare the current stage to 'the end of the beginning,' emphasizing the need for persistence and strategic litigation to challenge the legal system and ultimately secure animal rights.