Future People and Minority Groups: An Argument by Analogy?

The seventh session of the EPLab Permanent Seminar will feature José Gusmão (IFILNOVA), who will present “Future People and Minority Groups: An Argument by Analogy?”. The session will take place on 28 April, at 10:30, in room A209 at NOVA FCSH (Berna Campus), and will be held in Portuguese.

Abstract

I intend to examine the structure and plausibility of an argument by analogy in favour of the political protection of future people. The argument is based on an analogy between future people and politically vulnerable groups whose interests are systematically exposed to neglect or under-representation. The central idea is that the reasons justifying the granting of special institutional safeguards to these groups also support analogous measures for the benefit of future generations. Firstly, I set out the structure of the argument. Secondly, I illustrate it by applying it to a recurring objection: that the interests of future persons are too indeterminate to warrant meaningful institutional protection. Thirdly, I analyse some key similarities between future people and politically vulnerable groups, namely their exclusion from collective decision-making processes and their exposure to decisions made by third parties. Fourthly, I examine some relevant differences, such as the absence of future people at the time of the decision and the lack of a shared history of oppression. I conclude with a critical assessment of the argument, pointing to an overall negative prognosis regarding its cogency.

More information on the EPLab Permanent Seminar here.