Description
Book SynopsisBased on a rule-consequentialist account of the morality of individual reproduction, this book presents a theory of our obligations to future generations. It also brings together many different contemporary philosophical discussions, including the demands of morality and international justice, and includes discussions of contract-based accounts.
Trade ReviewThe discussion is lively, incisive and provocative and will make an enduring contribution. Certainly anyone interested in consequentialism or moral status of future persons will learn a great deal from this fascinating and extremely worthwhile book. * M. A. Roberts, Mind Journal *
What we owe to our own children, to the children of others, to our descendants, to the descendants of others, to future distant generations in our community, and to the future distant generation of distant others is a question few moral theories fully address. This glaring oversight is finally remedied by Tim Mulgan's Future People, an in-depth analysis of our obligations to future people, and the implications this analysis has for the plausibility of moral theories. Mulgan's extremely clear style makes Future People accessible and enjoyable. This book...should be read by all who take moral interest in others (and even more so by those who don't).... Mulgan has written a timely and important book of incredibly impressive scope and interest. He argues in favor of highly reasonable reproductive rules and his intriguing book will no doubt be of great value to this neglected area of ethics. * Rivka Weinberg, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. The Contract Theory ; 3. Value Theory ; 4. Hybrid Moral Theories ; 5. Rule Consequentialism ; 6. Reproductive Freedom ; 7. Optimism and Pessimism ; 8. Disagreement and Uncertainty ; 9. International Justice ; 10. The Limits of Rule Consequentialism ; 11. Dividing Morality
