Future Generations and Contemporary Ethics. (1st November 2003)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, Lawrence E.
• Is Part Of: Environmental values. Volume 12:Number 4(2003:Winter)
• Page Start: 471
• Page End: 487
• Publication Date: 2003-11-01
• Subjects: Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 179.105
• DOI: 10.3197/096327103129341414
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-2719

Abstract

Future generations do not exist, and are not determinate in their make-up. The moral significance of future generations cannot be accounted for on the basis of a purely individualistic ethic. Yet future generations are morally significant. The Person-Affecting Principle, that (roughly) only acts which are likely to affect particular individuals are morally significant, must be augmented in such a way as to take into account the moral significance of Homo sapiens, a holistic entity which certainly does exist. Recent contributions to Environmental Values by Alan Carter and Ernest Partridge are criticised (but not entirely rejected).