Conservation: Natural Resource and Future Generations Justice
LESSON 14: ETHICS OF CONSERVING DEPLETABLE RESOURCES
Today we will discuss the ethics of conserving depletable resources.
Points to be covered in this lesson:
•
It might appear that we have an obligation to conserve resources for future generations because they have an equal right to the limited resources of this planet.
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Conservation of resources Economic growth vs conservation
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Future generations have an equal right to the planet’s limited resources By depleting these resources we are depriving them of what is rightfully theirs So we ought to do our utmost to practice conservation • To minimize depletion
• To avoid violating the rights of future generations However, some of the writers claimed that it is a mistake to think that future generations have rights and there are three main reasons for that:
1. Future generation do not exist right now and may never exist. Since there is a possibility that future generation may never exist, they cannot “possess” rights. 2. If future generations did have rights, then we might be led to the absurd conclusion that we must sacrifice our entire civilization for their sake. 3. We can only say that someone has a certain right only if we know that he or she has a certain interest, which that right protects. The purpose of a right, after all, is to protect the interests of the right-holder, but we are virtually ignorant of what interests future generation will have. Justice to Future Generations • John Rawls that while it is unjust to impose disproportionately heavy burdens on present generations for the sake of future generations, it is also unjust for present generations to leave nothing for future generations.
What do you mean by the word Conservation? Conservation refers to the saving or rationing of resources for future use. A basic difference between pollution and resource depletion Pollution
• •
Most form of pollution affects present generations (with the notable exception of nuclear
Today we will discuss the ethics of conserving depletable resources.
Points to be covered in this lesson:
•
It might appear that we have an obligation to conserve resources for future generations because they have an equal right to the limited resources of this planet.
• •
Conservation of resources Economic growth vs conservation
• • •
Future generations have an equal right to the planet’s limited resources By depleting these resources we are depriving them of what is rightfully theirs So we ought to do our utmost to practice conservation • To minimize depletion
• To avoid violating the rights of future generations However, some of the writers claimed that it is a mistake to think that future generations have rights and there are three main reasons for that:
1. Future generation do not exist right now and may never exist. Since there is a possibility that future generation may never exist, they cannot “possess” rights. 2. If future generations did have rights, then we might be led to the absurd conclusion that we must sacrifice our entire civilization for their sake. 3. We can only say that someone has a certain right only if we know that he or she has a certain interest, which that right protects. The purpose of a right, after all, is to protect the interests of the right-holder, but we are virtually ignorant of what interests future generation will have. Justice to Future Generations • John Rawls that while it is unjust to impose disproportionately heavy burdens on present generations for the sake of future generations, it is also unjust for present generations to leave nothing for future generations.
What do you mean by the word Conservation? Conservation refers to the saving or rationing of resources for future use. A basic difference between pollution and resource depletion Pollution
• •
Most form of pollution affects present generations (with the notable exception of nuclear