OXFORD: "Why do anything for posterity?" is an old rhetorical question, usually followed by "after all, posterity has never done anything for us." This supposedly absolves us from obligations to future generations. The opposite view is held by many social and environmental activists. We must respect the "rights" of future generations, they say, we must take account of their interests in accordance with the dictates of some principles of justice.
OXFORD: "Why do anything for posterity?" is an old rhetorical question, usually followed by "after all, posterity has never done anything for us." This supposedly absolves us from obligations to future generations. The opposite view is held by many social and environmental activists. We must respect the "rights" of future generations, they say, we must take account of their interests in accordance with the dictates of some principles of justice.