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Do animals have natural rights?

Publication at Faculty of Law |
2022

Abstract

Pets, wild animals, pesky mosquitoes or slimy slugs, they are all representatives of the animal kingdom. Should all of them, or at least some of those listed, have natural rights similar to humans (at least from the point of view of legal naturalists)? And if so, are the natural rights of all animals equal? When we recognize the natural rights of animals, does that mean that all people should become vegans so as not to interfere with the animal's right to life? The presented article reflects on what natural rights actually are, whether they belong only to humans, or also to representatives of the animal kingdom, and how it is with the rights of animals according to the current legal order in the Czech Republic.