Constitutions, Democratic Self-Determination and the Institutional Empowerment of Future Generations: Mitigating an Aporia

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Constitutions, Democratic Self-Determination and the Institutional Empowerment of Future Generations: Mitigating an Aporia. / Rose, Michael.
In: Intergenerational Justice Review, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2016, p. 56-71.

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@article{86aba26df90c41f4bf76c3d66b31a62a,
title = "Constitutions, Democratic Self-Determination and the Institutional Empowerment of Future Generations: Mitigating an Aporia",
abstract = "Is the self-determination of future generations impeded by lasting constitutions, as Thomas Jefferson suggests? In this article it is not only argued that the opposite is true, but also that the question misses the point. It is demonstrated that the very demand for future generations{\textquoteright} full self-determination is self-contradictory, and that it is impossible to achieve. Applying the all-affected principle to future generations, it is shown that we will always affect them, and that we should employ an attitude of “reflective paternalism” towards them. With the help of institutions reviewed in this article, the interests of future generations could be introduced into today{\textquoteright}s political decision-making process. The role of constitutions is to provide the prerequisites for democratic self-determination and potentially also to facilitate the institutional empowerment of future generations.",
keywords = "Politics, Philosophy, Law",
author = "Michael Rose",
year = "2016",
doi = "10.24357/igjr.2.2.715",
language = "English",
volume = "9",
pages = "56--71",
journal = "Intergenerational Justice Review",
issn = "2190-6335",
publisher = "Stiftung fuer die Rechte Zukuenftiger Generationen",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Constitutions, Democratic Self-Determination and the Institutional Empowerment of Future Generations: Mitigating an Aporia

AU - Rose, Michael

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Is the self-determination of future generations impeded by lasting constitutions, as Thomas Jefferson suggests? In this article it is not only argued that the opposite is true, but also that the question misses the point. It is demonstrated that the very demand for future generations’ full self-determination is self-contradictory, and that it is impossible to achieve. Applying the all-affected principle to future generations, it is shown that we will always affect them, and that we should employ an attitude of “reflective paternalism” towards them. With the help of institutions reviewed in this article, the interests of future generations could be introduced into today’s political decision-making process. The role of constitutions is to provide the prerequisites for democratic self-determination and potentially also to facilitate the institutional empowerment of future generations.

AB - Is the self-determination of future generations impeded by lasting constitutions, as Thomas Jefferson suggests? In this article it is not only argued that the opposite is true, but also that the question misses the point. It is demonstrated that the very demand for future generations’ full self-determination is self-contradictory, and that it is impossible to achieve. Applying the all-affected principle to future generations, it is shown that we will always affect them, and that we should employ an attitude of “reflective paternalism” towards them. With the help of institutions reviewed in this article, the interests of future generations could be introduced into today’s political decision-making process. The role of constitutions is to provide the prerequisites for democratic self-determination and potentially also to facilitate the institutional empowerment of future generations.

KW - Politics

KW - Philosophy

KW - Law

U2 - 10.24357/igjr.2.2.715

DO - 10.24357/igjr.2.2.715

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 9

SP - 56

EP - 71

JO - Intergenerational Justice Review

JF - Intergenerational Justice Review

SN - 2190-6335

IS - 2

ER -

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