Legal personhood has historically been flexible, extending beyond individual humans to corporations, animals, infrastructure, and even religious institutions. If we recognize entities as legal persons based on labor, contribution, continuity, and societal impact, there is no inherent reason to stop at the scale of cities or unions. In fact, the next logical step is toContinue reading “From Countries to Continents: Expanding Legal Personhood to the Global Scale”
Tag Archives: corporate personhood
Beyond Humans: Recognizing Municipalities, Unions, and Movements as Legal Persons
The concept of legal personhood has expanded remarkably over time. Corporations, animals, rivers, infrastructure, and religious institutions have all been argued to deserve personhood under various ethical and legal frameworks. If personhood can be extended to these entities based on labor, contribution, continuity, and societal impact, then it naturally follows that municipalities, unions, and organizedContinue reading “Beyond Humans: Recognizing Municipalities, Unions, and Movements as Legal Persons”
Religious Establishments as Legal Persons: Extending Personhood to Protect Community and Continuity
Legal personhood has long been a flexible concept in human societies. Corporations, abstract collections of humans, are recognized as legal persons, capable of owning property, entering contracts, suing, and being sued. Rivers in some countries have been granted personhood, and artificial intelligence is increasingly discussed in similar terms. If personhood can be extended beyond individualContinue reading “Religious Establishments as Legal Persons: Extending Personhood to Protect Community and Continuity”
Infrastructure as Legal Persons: Recognizing the Labor of Buildings, Roads, and Bridges
The concept of legal personhood has expanded in surprising ways over the past century. Corporations, abstract collections of humans, are recognized as legal persons, capable of owning property, suing and being sued, and entering contracts. Artificial intelligence is increasingly discussed in similar terms. If entities without consciousness or traditional human qualities can be granted personhood,Continue reading “Infrastructure as Legal Persons: Recognizing the Labor of Buildings, Roads, and Bridges”
Why Animals Deserve Personhood: A Radical Proposal for Multi-Species Justice
For centuries, humans have relied on animals for labor, companionship, and ecological stewardship, yet our legal and social systems continue to treat them largely as property. From pets and service animals to farm animals and exotic species, animals are woven into the fabric of human society, contributing in ways both visible and invisible. Anti-cruelty laws,Continue reading “Why Animals Deserve Personhood: A Radical Proposal for Multi-Species Justice”