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The Role of ‘Previous Generations’ in the Just Savings Principle of John Rawls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2019

Ben Pontin
Ben Pontin*
Affiliation:
Cardiff University
*
Email: PontinB@cardiff.ac.uk
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Abstract

This article explores the shift in Rawls’ just savings principle away from an initial iteration that was indifferent to previous generational savings, to one in which past historical savings are the cornerstone of the motivation to save for future generations. Attention is given to the practical application of the revised principle in the field of the environment. The revised principle is argued to be an improvement on the initial one, because previous generations have an existence and identity that is more tangible than yet-to-be future ones.

Keywords

just savings principleprevious generationsRawlsintergenerational justicefuturity
Type
Articles
Information
Kantian Review , Volume 24 , Special Issue 4: Special Issue on Kant & Law , December 2019 , pp. 555 - 571
Copyright
© Kantian Review, 2019 

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