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Intergenerational Justice and the Non‐reciprocity Problem

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  • Hugh McCormick

Abstract

Many of us share a strong intuitive sense that acts or policies that gravely threaten future people's well‐being violate the requirements of justice. This intuition has proven problematic for theories that found justice on reciprocity because future people are viewed as powerless to reciprocate our actions towards them. The non‐reciprocity problem appears to deliver a decisive blow to reciprocity‐based theories of justice. I wish to dispute this view. I point to two well‐known facts about human existence – generations overlap continuously and the old depend upon the young – to show that future generations are not asymmetrically vulnerable to our actions, and therefore that justice as reciprocity is not vulnerable to the non‐reciprocity problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugh McCormick, 2009. "Intergenerational Justice and the Non‐reciprocity Problem," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 57(2), pages 451-458, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:57:y:2009:i:2:p:451-458
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9248.2009.00786.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edward A. Page, 2007. "Fairness on the Day after Tomorrow: Justice, Reciprocity and Global Climate Change," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 55(1), pages 225-242, March.
    2. Edward A. Page, 2007. "Fairness on the Day after Tomorrow: Justice, Reciprocity and Global Climate Change," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 55, pages 225-242, March.
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