A right, unlike an interest, is a valid claim, or potential claim, made by a moral agent, under principles that govern both the claimant and the target of the claim. Animals cannot be the bearers of rights because the concept of rights is essentially human; it is rooted in and has force within a human moral world.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Carl Cohen (1997) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: