Libertarian Theories of Intergenerational Justice

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses and assesses various libertarian positions on intergenerational justice. The implications of the following issues are examined: various provisos on appropriation (and thus versions of left- and right-libertarianism), whether rights protects choices or interests, generations being different sizes (and the issue of total vs. per capita shares of natural resources), overlapping vs. discrete generations, the duties of procreators to provide fair shares for their offspring, and gifts. A brief defense of a version of left-libertarianism is provided and it is suggested it provides no basis for a duty to conserve resources for future generations when (roughly) their per capita value of natural resources will be greater than the current per capita value (e.g., because of enhanced value from inherited technology).

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