Justice to Future Generations and the Environment

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This book contributes to the discussion about obligations to future generations by arguing that a principle of justice, according to which we must share the environmental resources of the planet with future generations, must be considered to be part of the just basic structure of society. The argument is based on a close study of Rawls’ theory of justice and particularly of its treatment of the future generations issue. But the author claims that the affirmation of a principle of justice towards future generations must be accompanied by the attempt to articulate the motives that shape a concern with the fate of future persons in the first place. In order to consider, and further, its real chances, we must put the perspective of justice between generations, with its very detached character, within the context of our view from the present such as it is situated in historical time. This opens a fascinating but difficult field of inquiry about inter-generational value and its different aspects. Although it is centred on the theory of justice and on general ethics, the book also pays attention to the legal issues raised by the notion of a future-oriented just basic structure of society.