The Shared Good We Seek
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solidarity we feel, as members oftransgenerational communities, to future members. This solidarity is shaped by moral similarity and a shared conception ofvalues, not a subjective emotion. As rational members oftransgenerational communities, we logically engage in acts ofmoral similarity and reflection. Thus, our obligations to future generations are not composed oflove, rather a form ofunity that derives from shared aims. The Shared Good We Seek Principle ofObligation is grounded in a debate ofmorality, rather than sentiment. This principle avoids the problems raised with self-interested motivations that Thompson’s theory oflife-transcending interests faces. Thus, the Shared Good We Seek Principle ofObligation explains why we, as members oftransgenerational communities, have obligations to future generations.
VI. Sustainable Development and Policy Prescription in Relation to the Transgenerational Community “This is a matter ofhumanity rather than ofjustice. The difference between the two is that justice is concerned with principles ofownership or the control ofresources, while humanity is concerned with people’s well-being” (De-Shalit 1995, 63).
Environmentalists argue that the discourse ofenvironmental issues should be grounded in a context of ethics, rather than justice. Environmental ethics considers the well-being offuture generations and thus in order to protect the environment, politics should be reunited with ethics; or as they often claim, politics should be less about power and more about morality ofour public domain and our obligations to the natural world (De-Shalit 2000, 114).
To frame the discussion ofthe environmental crisis in terms ofethics and morality is to debate over policy prescription in communitarian terms. Since communitarianism accounts for our moral obligations to future generations, our discourse ofenvironmental concern should be grounded in this tradition. The threat ofenvironmental depletion affects the lives offuture, as well as, present individuals. Future generations will be affected by the tremendous burden past and present people have placed on them in terms ofthe financial and environmental consequences ofour conspicuous consumption. Present people are affected by the threat ofenvironment depletion because ofour increasing obligations to future generations to produce a livable world. We chose which environmental resources to sustain based on our values derived from our community. There are two types ofenvironmental resources that we consider good. First, there are resources required to maintain a livable world. This category would include clean air and water, a strong ozone layer and environments capable ofproducing adequate food. In order to create a livable world for future generations, the environment must produce and maintain the physical conditions ofa livable world. The second category ofresources is environmental goods, or what Thompson calls cultural heritage. Environmental goods are important to and valued by different communities, but are not necessary to maintain or sustain a livable world for future generations (Thompson 2000, 244). For example, the Vermont community wants to preserve the Green Mountains for the enjoyment offuture generations. The ski hills and hiking trails in the mountain range are important aspects to the Vermont community.