Victoria Kühborth in Talking Animals, Law & Philosophy

Please join us for our third event in this term's Talking Animals, Law & Philosophy series, organised by the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law. Victoria Kühborth, Research Assistant and Doctoral Candidate at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and Visiting Researcher at the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law, will join us to discuss “The fragile bonds of trust: exploring the role of animal rights in restoring justice”. The event will take place on Thursday 27th February 5-6.30pm (UK time) on Zoom. This event is open to all and a recording will be made available on our website afterwards. Abstract: Trust, encompassing affective (emotional) and cognitive (strategic) dimensions, forms a foundational element of relationships, governance, and legal systems. For animals, trust is inherently affective but influenced by cognitive assessments of human actions. Societal recognition of animal sentience has led to protective laws, yet systemic shortcomings, including weak enforcement and limited animal rights, betray this trust. This betrayal extends to broader societal trust in legal and governmental institutions. The analysis highlights the limitations of “thin trust,” reliant on assumptions of benevolence, and advocates for “thick trust” through enforceable fundamental rights for animals. Such rights would protect animals’ trust, deter maltreatment, and restore public confidence in institutions. Structural reforms, including education, simpler laws, and stringent enforcement, are essential but insufficient without fundamental rights. These rights, upheld by courts, would ensure accountability, fairness, and the integrity of the legal system, fostering a culture of respect and trust for all sentient beings.