Responsibility for Future Generations

Abstract

In this chapter, the issue is raised in what sense the present generation may be considered responsible for the destiny of future generations. The ethics involved is of a public nature, in particular an ethic of responsibility, as explained by Max Weber. It is argued that, in the first instance, this responsibility should be based on the idea of justice. In his A Theory of Justice, however, John Rawls only considers the question of the responsibility for the next generations, confining himself to achieve ‘just savings’ for the next. As regards future generations, problems that are more serious are involved, however, like environmental issues, climatic change, and the depletion of raw materials and natural resources. In this connection, with respect to future generations the difficulty arises that the notion of justice actually does not apply, since the conditions of reciprocity and equality that attach to this notion are by definition not involved. Apart from this, the urgent problem arises that global justice to the current generation is at variance with that to future generations. For on the one hand by reason of justice less prosperous nations of the present generation justifiably strive for greater affluence, while on the other hand, because of the serious repercussions being involved, the interests of future generations would not be served by this development. This problem is obviously of a global nature, and can accordingly only be dealt with at that level. The solution of the global problems involved is only conceivable when the conditions of equality and reciprocity implied by the idea of justice are fulfilled as regards the current global generation, that is, that the problems involved are dealt with on an equal footing. This makes it possible that a shared awareness grows that common issues and interests are involved. This not only concerns the present generation, but also the interests of future generations.