Since its first publication nearly twenty years ago, this groundbreaking collection of essays has been constantly cited and debated.
The philosophical questions raised here centre around 'whether and to what degree it can be morally incumbent on us to make sacrifices to bring happy people into the world or to avoid preventing them being brought into the world'. The implications surrounding this central question are becoming ever more urgent in the light of increasing concerns over dwindling resources, population growth, globalisation and environmental risk.
This collection has long been out of print and difficult to obtain. Its reappearance will be welcomed by ethicists, social policy-makers, and all concerned with the relation between the present choices and future chances of humanity.
Contents:
Part I: Should intrinsic value be placed on the preservation of mankind?
Introduction. R.I.Sikora and Brian Barry
Obligations to Posterity. Thomas Schwartz
Do Potential People Have Moral Rights? Mary Warren
In Defense of the Potentiality Principle. William Anglin
Future People and Us. Jan Narveson
On Maximizing Happiness. Jonathan Bennett
Environmental Ethics and Obligations to Future Generations Robert Scott, Jr.
Classical Classical Utilitarianism and the Population Optimum. L.W.Sumner
Is It Wrong to Prevent the Existence of Future Generations? R.I.Sikora
Part II: Assuming that future generations will exist and that the future population size is taken as given, what obligations do we have to future generations?
Discounting Versus Maximum Sustainable Yield. Mary B. William
The Futurity Problem. Gregory Kavka
Circumstances of Justice and Future Generations. Brian Barry
Bibliographical: ISBN 1 874267 31 6 (HB), £30.00, 250pp. Demi 8vo, 31 January 1997
Readership: Tertiary and Postgraduate: Philosophy, Social Ethics, Human Ecology.
Orders: The White Horse Press, 1 Strond, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UD, UK. Payment by cheque drawn on a UK or US bank, bank draft or money order in Sterling or US dollars, or by VISA/Mastercard. Please add 10% postage worldwide (25% for airmail outside Europe).
Tel/fax 0(+44)1859 520204.