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Essay / How we influence future generations today
One of the least controversial ideas in our culture is “resource conservation”: the idea that we should prioritize conserving resources for future generations, for fear of leaving them nothing. This of course implies that there is no conflict or shortage between our resource consumption and future generations. But to go further, there is an incredible harmony between consumption and future consumption, between present and future generations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay We care about our family, our friends, our neighbors, our community, and our country, and we can even concern about current environmental problems. We already think about people who don't exist when we build museums and sports facilities, because these facilities are a legacy for the future. We also donate to charity to help people we don't know. Some cultures care about ancestors, passing down stories to them, and living lives that make them proud. We could extend this to our descendants so that they would be proud of our inheritance on a prosperous planet. This future quality of life is also affected by the choice, or lack of choice, of demographic policies. Although interconnected, environmental policies and population policies are distinct factors. We could destroy the environment without increasing population, and we could, perhaps not realistically but at least in principle, pursue population policies that make the world uncomfortably crowded within the limits set by ecology. Our way of life could even, although less likely, lead to a drastic reduction in the population which would make life difficult for the survivors by damaging their economy. In any case, the moral duty not to impose on future generations the difficulties caused by demographic problems is real. Our choices of vast cultural policies have impacts on future peoples. Our ability to develop a fair and functioning global economy will of course have a big impact on living standards in the future. Technology too. But quality of life is not just about material goods. The arts and sciences are important spiritual assets for any culture; political and legal institutions, as well as moral values, are even more crucial. In other words, barring catastrophe, the Earth will remain habitable for about a billion years, and several million future generations could succeed us. Most of humanity's potential lies in the future. There are actions we could take today that could have a significant impact on future generations. For example, if there is a nuclear war that ends civilization, then this future we are preparing for will never happen at all. From the point of view of making a difference, the expected impact of our actions today on the distant future might be the most important thing about them. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a personalized paper essayUltimately, future individuals differ from present individuals only in one property: the era in which they live. From an unbiased perspective, the fact that we live in a certain time does not give that time any special or ethical importance. If we base activism on concern for the well-being of..