Environmental Justice and Intergenerational Ethics

An Interpretation of Rawls's Saving Principle

Abstract

In his book A Theory of Justice, Rawls suggests the possibility of intergenerational ethics on the basis of his saving principle, which imposes on the present generation the duty to preserve resources for the future. However, social contract theory poses some difficulties in justifying a rule applied for the benefit of future generations because, in this case, there is no reciprocity of benefit. In other words, the present generation can hardly contract with a future generation-which does not exist-, since the latter cannot reciprocate any contributions by the former.
In this thesis, on the basis of Rawls's early writings, we demonstrate the logical necessity of contracting with the future generation. Rawls defines justice as fairness, which means that one must take into consideration the unfavorable aspects that arise from the practice of a rule. In addition, justice requires continuous reflection on the original intent of a rule during its application. Therefore, Rawls's first principle of freedom, if it can be considered to be fair, renders the second principle-which concerns social differences and saving for the future-a necessary condition for the practice of the former.
We can now define the future generation or nonhuman beings as theoretical subjects supposed for the purpose of justice, even if the existence of the world after the death of the present generation is still uncertain. There is already a suggestion of mutuality with such theoretical subjects in Rawls's concept of the “original position” or “veil of ignorance.” A social contract with such invisible (imaginary/theoretical) subjects assures the fairness of freedom in the present generation, and even expands and enriches the meaning of freedom. We define this possibility to contract in order to establish rules with the beings surrounding us for environmental justice. Environmental justice as fairness is based on a metaphysical presupposition: “I could have been someone else” or “I might have been born as someone else” in the present or future world.