Acceptable Quote by William O. Douglas
“Inanimate objects are sometimes parties to litigation. A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole - a creature of ecclesiastical law - is an acceptable adversary, and large fortunes ride on its cases... So it should be as respects valleys, alpine meadows, rivers, lakes, estuaries, beaches, ridges, groves of trees, swampland, or even air that feels the destructive pressures of modern technology and modern life.”
About This Quote
Legal fictions grant nonhuman entities rights and responsibilities, enabling society to regulate complex interactions with nature and technology.
In simple terms: Law extends to nonhuman actors.
Key Takeaway
Legal personhood shapes environmental accountability.
Themes
environmental law
jurisprudence
legal personhood
ecology
technology impact
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
legal observation
environmental commentary
philosophical insight
When to use this quote
- court cases involving corporations
- regulating pollution from factories
- protecting wildlife habitats
- addressing climate‑related lawsuits
- managing resource extraction
Key Concepts
legal fictions
corporate personhood
environmental stewardship
juridical metaphors
Practical Applications
- drafting statutes that recognize ecosystems as legal entities
- using corporate law to hold polluters accountable
Questions to Reflect On
- How does granting legal personality to nature change enforcement mechanisms?
- What limits should be placed on extending rights to nonhuman entities?
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