The Future of the Person

This collective work is a scholarly examination of the evolving concept of the person within private law. It features contributions from various legal scholars who collectively provide a comprehensive analysis of the shifting legal and philosophical landscapes concerning this concept. The book thoughtfully explores how legal systems adapt to changes in societal structures, technology, and governance.

This volume explores how legal systems conceptualize individuality, discussing three key ideas in the process. First, the editors question the relevance of historical legal categories. Specifically, they ask if the nineteenth-century concept of the “subject”, as defined in classical legal codes, or the twentieth-century constitutional idea of the “person” are still useful legal categories today. Furthermore, the authors ask if “impersonal” entities could replace fundamental rights. The text considers the intriguing possibility that fundamental rights, once essential to defining personhood, may be overshadowed by more impersonal or systemic constructs. The authors also consider how evolving sociopolitical contexts reshape subjectivity. In an era defined by infocracy and the rise of autocratic governance, the book considers how individual subjectivities should be rethought, as well as the implications of such redefinitions for private law.

This book challenges traditional notions and proposes new frameworks for understanding the individual in private law. For those interested in the intersection of law, philosophy, and technology, this volume offers valuable insights into the evolving concept of personhood in legal discourse.

Available at the library