With the challenges of global warming and the loss of biodiversity worsening, scientists are calling for unprecedented, multi-level societal change in the next several decades, especially in...Show moreWith the challenges of global warming and the loss of biodiversity worsening, scientists are calling for unprecedented, multi-level societal change in the next several decades, especially in affluent societies. Such change is required in order to abate the worst possible consequences of societal collapse and human extinction in the coming centuries. If such change is ever to happen, a comprehensive understanding of why people would be willing to bear the costs of change in order to ensure the fate of future generations is required. Many philosophers have provided moral arguments to answer this question. In this thesis I examine the work of Samuel Scheffler who addresses this issue from a different angle, questioning whether and in what ways future generations matter to us. Scheffler argues that compelling reasons for wanting to ensure that humanity continues to thrive in the remote future are implicit in many of the things that matter to people today. I discuss various challenges to Scheffler’s work and argue that, besides minor amendments, his core claims are viable. Indeed, the survival and flourishing of humanity into the remote future matter to us in its own right and because it is a condition for our ability to live a value-laden life. Moreover, it enables us to answer our conservative desire to preserve and sustain the things that we value beyond our own lifespan. Consequently, I stress the importance of incorporating these reasons into communication strategies aimed at enhancing public support for environmental policies, as these reasons have strong motivational power.Show less
