Are future generations that belong to language minorities entitled to group rights?*. Issue 1 (4th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cordeiro-Rodrigues, Luís
• Is Part Of: South African journal of philosophy. Volume 35:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2016-03-04
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy; Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1080/02580136.2015.1071166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0258-0136

Abstract

Abstract : In this article, I investigate to what extent future generations that belong to language minorities are entitled to group rights that protect their linguistic identity. In particular, I assess whether these future generations are entitled to assistance rights, symbolic claims, self-government rights and exemptions from the law. To address this I outline three arguments supporting group rights for current generations and raise the question of whether these arguments, which are true for current generations, will also be true for future generations. The answer defends the entitlement of future generations to group rights against two counterarguments. The first is that future generations have no interest in preserving their language and therefore there is no normative justification for group rights. The second is that there is a duty to eliminate group rights in order to avoid malign consequences of these rights for future generations.