Summer Course Bridging Animal Rights Theory & Practice

The “Bridging Animal Rights Theory and Practice” is a unique 8-week live, online course that delves into the philosophical foundations of animal rights law. Designed for students, legal professionals, advocates, and scholars, this course offers a critical exploration of how moral and political philosophy shape contemporary legal debates and reform agendas for animals. Taught by renowned animal philosopher Dr Paulina Siemieniec, this course provides a rare opportunity to study with a leading scholar whose work lies at the intersection of care ethics, political theory, and the legal status of animals. Through a series of guided lectures and discussions, participants will explore how theory and practice intersect—and how legal arguments can be strengthened through a robust understanding of philosophical concepts such as utilitarianism, deontology, care ethics, intersectionality, and abolitionism. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to understand the relationship between animal rights theory and animal rights law, with particular attention to how philosophical arguments shape legal debates and strategies. This live course, taught by Dr Paulina Siemieniec, will convene every Wednesday from 2 July 2025 to 20 August 2025, from 5 pm CET to 6:30 pm CET (Paris time). Whether you are a student, animal advocate, researcher, policy-maker, or animal protection professional, this course provides a vital foundation for anyone looking to deepen their engagement with animal rights law from a theoretical and interdisciplinary perspective.