Wise views animals as autonomous creatures entitled to certain fundamental rights. But he believes the current legal system is outdated and as a result, unable to adequately address animal rights issues.

"At one time it [legal doctrine] fit in well with the way that people understand how the universe ticks," referring to the once common belief that animals lacked intelligence.

According to Wise, research has demonstrated that many animals should be viewed as intelligent, autonomous beings.

"I argue that judges--when they are giving rights--should not look to species, but instead look to autonomy," he said. "Autonomy, and autonomous things are the one's given rights."

Wise, who became interested in animal rights in the 1970s when he read the book Animal Liberation by Peter Singer, believes animal rights law is an increasingly popular field.

"Harvard...is offering the course because it is an up-and-coming area," he said. "[Its offering] makes it more difficult for other schools to dismiss it as having no intellectual value."