Abstract

Chapter I. The subject of Our Responsibilities Towards Future Generations , although of great importance because of modern technology, has not been treated in any depth by past generations of philosophers. The question ought to be considered as part of the general problem of intergenerational ethics. ;Chapter II. In considering our RFG, it becomes obvious that the question has at least three dimensions--epistemological, ontological, and psychological. The epistemological problem arises because of our relative ignorance of the very existence of future generations, a well as of their needs and moral ideals. The ontological problem is concerned with how human beings of the future may be regarded as having viable claims upon human beings of the present. The psychological problem is rooted in the phenomenon of discounting the future. In view of this human tendency, how can our contemporaries be motivated to make sacrifices for future generations? ;Chapter III. A number of writers have recently made valuable contributions toward the formulation of a viable theory of our RFG. These contributions may be classified as temporal or non-temporal, depending on whether they emphasize the special role of one generation. ;Chapter IV. The contributions of these writers, enriched by a number of other insights, furnishes the materials from which to formulate the community view of our RFG; i.e., that the present generation and future generations from an intergenerational moral community. ;Chapter V. This community view of our RFG may be strengthened by the chain approach, stressing the anchoring of our intergenerational responsibilities in our responsibilities to proximate future generations. ;Chapter VI. Some concessions are best made in the face of the epistemological problem . The timeless existence approach and the chain approach are valuable in defense against the ontological problem, and the psychological problem can be defused. ;Chapter VII. There are five interesting questions relating to the quality of our RFG, and three important questions concerning the content of our RFG