Over-breeding; Ethically the ultimate environmental problem

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States)

OSTI ID:5422767

Schuh, S A ^[1]

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1. Dept. of Philosophy, Univ. of Tampa, Tampa, FL (US)

The Greenhouse Effect has fuzzy parameters, as do the consequences of acid rain, accidental nuclear fallout, deforestation, even the depletion of oil and natural gas reserves, and other threatening calamities. But the consequences of human over-breeding do not fall within fuzzy parameters. Reliable demographic studies predict a world population by the year 2020 of twice the present four billion or so living human beings. Some of us will see that year. But the population will again have doubled by the year 2090: sixteen billion people. The author suggests in this paper some morally permissible steps that might be taken to circumvent what otherwise is most assuredly an impending world tragedy. We have an ethical obligation to future generations. They have the moral right to a qualitatively fulfilling life, not just on allotted number of years. Some of my suggestions will not be palatable to some readers. But I urge those readers seriously to consider and if possible, hopefully, to propose alternatives.

• OSTI ID: 5422767
• Journal Information: International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States), Journal Name: International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States) Vol. 1:2; ISSN IJEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
ENVIRONMENT
ETHICAL ASPECTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
POPULATIONS