Don't stop thinking about tomorrow: two paradoxes about duties to future generations

Abstract

In this paper I do four things. First, I present Derek Parfit’s Mere Addition Paradox. Second, I reject two arguments for the claim that the paradox is morally trivial. Third, I reject two arguments against one of the paradox’s premises. Finally, I identify a variation on the paradox. I argue that it is this variant which poses the serious challenge to our moral convictions which initially seems to be embodied in Parfit’s paradox and argue that this second paradox can be resolved. Parfit’s paradox may thus remain unresolved without creating the important moral difficulty it initially appeared to create.