A theory of intergenerational justice [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Jörg Tremmel

Ullmann

Sujets

• Philosophie

Informations

• Publié par: heinrich-heine-universitat_dusseldorf
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 17
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

A Theory of
Intergenerational Justice
Inauguraldissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der
Philosophie (Dr. phil.) durch die Philosophische Fakultät der
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
Vorgelegt von Dr. rer. pol. Jörg Tremmel
Aus Oberursel/Taunus
Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Dieter Birnbacher
Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Michael Baurmann
Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 14.5.2008
iD 61
iiThematic Structure
1. Introduction
2. Criteria-Based Definitions of Scientific Terms
3. Comparisons between Generations
4. Objections to Theories of Generational Justice
5. What to Sustain? Capital or Wellbeing as an Axiological Goal?
6. How Much to Sustain? The Demands of Justice in the
Intergenerational Context
7. Conclusion
iiiContents
List of Figures............................................................................................................................ viii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ x
List of Abreviations ..................................................................................................................... xi
1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Mankind’s Increasing Powers....................................................................................... 1
1.2 The No-Man’s-Land of Ethics...................................................................................... 3
1.3 Ethics of the Future—in a Double Sense...................................................................... 5
1.4 Distinguishing Generational Justice from Sustainability.............................................. 8
1.5 The Role of Philosophy ................................................................................................ 9
1.6 Procedure of the Planned Study.................................................................................. 11
2 Criteria-Based Definitions of Scientific Terms .................................................................. 13
2.1 Four Criteria for Definitions 13
2.1.1 The Common Use ............................................................................................... 14
2.1.2 Adequacy ............................................................................................................ 15
2.1.3 Fruitfulness ......................................................................................................... 16
2.1.4 Etymological Meaning........................................................................................ 17
3 Comparisons between Generations..................................................................................... 19
3.1 The Ambiguity of the Term ‘Generation’................................................................... 19
3.1.1 Family Generations............................................................................................. 19
3.1.2 Societal Generations ........................................................................................... 19
3.1.3 Chronological Generations ................................................................................. 20
3.2 Irrelevance of Societal Generations for Intergenerational Justice Theories ............... 21
3.3 Relevance of Family-related Generations for Intergenerational Justice Theories...... 22
3.4 Temporal and Intertemporal Generational Justice...................................................... 22
3.4.1 Should we Use the Term ‘Age Groups’ instead of ‘Temporal Generations’?.... 23
3.4.2 Definition of ‘Future’ Generations ..................................................................... 24
3.5 Direct and Indirect Comparisons of Chronological Generations................................ 26
3.6 Comparisons between Generations in various Fields ................................................. 28
3.7 Comparisons the Field of Ecology as an Example ..................................................... 30
3.8 Comparison of Life Courses ....................................................................................... 32
3.9 Summary..................................................................................................................... 33
4 Objections to Theories of Generational Justice .................................................................. 34
4.1 Non-Identity-Problem................................................................................................. 34
4.1.1 Unconvincing Arguments against the ‘Non-Identity Problem’.......................... 37
4.1.1.1 “Humans are more than their DNA”............................................................... 37
4.1.1.2 “There will be Enough People in the Future to Justify our Responsibilities to
them” ........................................................................................................................ 37
4.1.1.3 “The Snowball Effect of the Non-Identity-Problem is Minimal”................... 38
4.1.2 Convincing Objections against the ‘Non-Identity Challenge’............................ 39
4.1.2.1 The ‘Your Neighbour´s Children’ Argument ................................................. 39
4.1.2.2 The ‘Butterfly Effect’-Argument.................................................................... 40
4.1.3 The ‘No-Difference-View’ ................................................................................. 43
4.1.4 Other Arguments against the ‘Non-Identity-Challenge’ .................................... 46
4.2 “Future Individuals Cannot Have Rights”.................................................................. 49
4.2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 49
4.2.2 Human Rights Discourse and Ethical Discourse ................................................ 50
4.2.3 Can Future People Be Said to Have Moral Rights?............................................ 51
iv4.2.4 Will Future People have Moral Rights? ..............................................................53
4.2.5 The Origin and Nature of ‘Rights’ ......................................................................53
4.2.6 Do we have Present Obligations to People who will Exist in the Future? ..........56
4.2.6.1 Persons with Indeterminate Identities .............................................................56
4.2.6.2 An Indeterminate Number of Future Persons..................................................58
4.2.7 The Relationship of Rights and Obligations .......................................................59
4.2.8 Unusual Wordings ...............................................................................................60
4.2.9 Can Future People Be Said to Have Legal Rights?.............................................62
4.2.9.1 National Constitutions .....................................................................................62
4.2.9.2 ‘Succeeding’ instead of ‘Future’ Generations.................................................64
4.2.9.3 International Law.............................................................................................65
4.2.9.4 Group Rights ...................................................................................................66
4.2.10 Summary..............................................................................................................69
5 What to Sustain? Capital or Wellbeing as an Axiological Goal?........................................70
5.1 Societal Targets and Concepts of Justice ....................................................................70
5.2 The Capital-Based Approach ......................................................................................70
5.2.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................70
5.2.2 Which Capital? ....................................................................................................72
5.2.3 Heritage or Legacy? ............................................................................................73
5.2.4 Substitution of Different Types of Capital ..........................................................74
5.2.4.1 ‘Weak Sustainability’75
5.2.4.2 ‘Strong Sustainability’.....................................................................................78
5.2.4.3 Mediatory Approaches as a Solution?.............................................................81
5.2.5 Financial Capital—So-called ‘Generational Accounting’...................................81
5.2.6 Approaches to Measuring Changes in Total Capital...........................................83
5.2.6.1 Generational Inheritance According to Hauser ...............................................83
5.2.6.2 Generational Inheritance According to the Economic Sustainability Indicator..
.........................................................................................................................88
5.2.7 Cultural Capital ...................................................................................................93
5.2.8 Social Capital.......................................................................................................95
5.2.9 Conclusion.........................................................................................................100
5.3 The